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Lakhisarai: The first phase of polling in Bihar turned chaotic on Wednesday as a heated confrontation erupted between Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and RJD MLC Ajay Kumar, moments after the Deputy CM’s convoy came under attack in a nearby village. The exchange, captured on video and widely shared online, added tension to an already charged polling atmosphere in the Lakhisarai constituency. Clash outside polling booth The dramatic face-off occurred outside a polling station where both leaders were present. Eyewitnesses reported that the two politicians hurled accusations at each other in full public view, drawing a large crowd of voters and security personnel. Sinha accused the RJD legislator of being “under the influence of alcohol” and “creating a nuisance near the polling booth.” In response, Ajay Kumar hit back, calling Sinha a “criminal” who was allegedly trying to “distribute money to influence voters.” A video clip of the verbal clash quickly went viral, showing Sinha visibly agitated as he shouted, “You are drunk and doing hooliganism,” while Kumar retaliated by accusing him of using “money and muscle power” to intimidate voters. Security personnel intervened to separate the two, preventing the situation from escalating further. Sinha’s convoy attacked earlier in Khoriari village The confrontation came shortly after a mob attack on Sinha’s convoy in Khoriari village, located a few kilometres from the polling site. According to reports, locals pelted stones, slippers, and even cow dung at his vehicle as he arrived to inspect polling activities. Visuals from the spot showed an angry crowd surrounding his car, chanting slogans of “Sinha murdabad” and blocking the road. Police teams rushed to the scene and dispersed the mob after a brief scuffle. Sinha later accused RJD supporters of orchestrating the attack, calling it an act of desperation. “These are RJD’s goons. They know the NDA is returning to power, so they are resorting to hooliganism,” he said while speaking to reporters. He also claimed that his polling agent was forcibly removed from a booth and that voters supporting the NDA were being obstructed. RJD denies role, blames years of neglect The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), however, dismissed the allegations, asserting that the unrest reflected long-standing public anger over poor governance. In a sharp statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the party said: “For ten years, despite repeated pleas, Vijay Sinha couldn’t get even one road built. Today, he went to mock the same voters.” The RJD added that villagers had been raising slogans of “no road, no vote” (“road nahi to vote nahi”) in protest against years of neglect and unfulfilled promises. Law and order measures intensified Following the convoy attack, additional central paramilitary forces were deployed in the Lakhisarai area to ensure smooth polling. The district magistrate confirmed that the situation was brought under control soon after the incident. The Election Commission of India (ECI) directed the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) to take strict action against those responsible for creating disturbances. A senior police officer said, “We have identified several individuals involved in the attack and are verifying their political affiliations.” Polling, however, continued uninterrupted in other areas of the constituency. High turnout despite tension Despite the early morning unrest, voter enthusiasm remained high. By 5 pm, the first phase of polling in Bihar recorded an estimated 60 per cent turnout, with officials expecting the final figure to rise as people queued up even after the scheduled closing time. Local observers noted that the violence and verbal duels might have polarised voters further but were unlikely to derail the overall polling process. The Lakhisarai episode underscored the volatile political atmosphere in Bihar, where the ruling NDA and the RJD-led opposition are locked in a fierce electoral contest. While both sides have traded allegations of intimidation and corruption, Wednesday’s incident highlighted how personal rivalries and local grievances continue to shape the state’s politics. Authorities have tightened security across polling stations to prevent further clashes as the multi-phase Assembly elections continue in the coming days.
