Patna: The Election Commission of India (EC) on Saturday ordered immediate action and suspended an Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) in Bihar’s Samastipur district after a pile of VVPAT mock slips was found dumped near a road in the Sarairanjan Assembly constituency.
The discovery, made close to KSR College, triggered political outrage and prompted the EC to seek a detailed report from the Samastipur district administration. Officials confirmed that the recovered slips were “mock test” samples generated during routine pre-poll checks of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and not from actual voting.
District Magistrate Roshan Kushwaha said he rushed to the spot with a team and secured the slips in the presence of candidates and polling officials. “An FIR is being registered and a departmental inquiry has been initiated. Two officials have been recommended for action,” Kushwaha told reporters.
Following a preliminary inquiry, the EC directed disciplinary measures against the ARO for negligence in handling mock poll material. The Commission said the incident reflected a serious lapse in procedure, even though it did not involve real votes.
The issue gained political traction after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shared a video on social media showing bundles of paper slips lying on the roadside. The party questioned how and under whose direction the slips were discarded, alleging “carelessness under the watch of those who talk of protecting democracy.”
समस्तीपुर के सरायरंजन विधानसभा क्षेत्र के KSR कॉलेज के पास सड़क पर भारी संख्या में EVM से निकलने वाली VVPAT पर्चियां फेंकी हुई मिली।
कब, कैसे, क्यों किसके इशारे पर इन पर्चियों को फेंका गया? क्या चोर आयोग इसका जवाब देगा? क्या यह सब बाहर से आकर बिहार में डेरा डाले लोकतंत्र के… pic.twitter.com/SxOR6dd7Me
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) November 8, 2025
RJD MP Manoj K Jha also wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner seeking stronger security at EVM strong rooms and assurance that power disruptions would not compromise the machines.
The district administration maintained that the discarded slips were used only for training and mock exercises. “All actual polling machines and slips are stored securely,” officials said.
The Election Commission has sought a follow-up report on the inquiry and reiterated that all election staff must strictly adhere to disposal and security protocols for VVPAT material.
The incident, coming amid ongoing polling phases in Bihar, has reignited debate over the handling and transparency of voting systems, with opposition parties demanding tighter supervision and accountability.
