RJD protests in Sasaram against ‘suspicious’ truck, officials deny EVM tampering charge

Political tension flared in Bihar’s Rohtas district as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidates and supporters from the Grand Alliance staged a protest outside a strong room in Sasaram. The party alleged that a truck loaded with electronic voting machines (EVMs) entered the counting centre late on Monday night without prior notice.

Visuals circulating on social media and local TV channels showed a vehicle entering the campus, followed by RJD workers demanding an explanation from election officials. The party described the incident as a “serious breach” of protocol and claimed it was an attempt to tamper with stored EVMs before the counting day.

The RJD’s Sasaram candidate Jyoti Pandey led the demonstration, accusing the district administration of “vote theft” and demanding that the Election Commission (EC) initiate an immediate inquiry. The party’s national spokesperson, Manoj Jha, flagged the issue publicly, calling on the EC to “ensure transparency and public confidence in the electoral process”.

Officials, EC reject allegations as ‘baseless’

The Rohtas District Magistrate, Rajeev Roshan, swiftly dismissed the RJD’s claims, stating that the truck carried only empty tin boxes used for storing non-sensitive materials. “No EVMs were being moved. Everything was under CCTV surveillance. The strong room remains sealed in the presence of candidates’ representatives,” he told reporters. He added that the Election Commission’s standard operating procedures require all entries and exits at strong rooms to be recorded on camera, and the footage will be shared with political parties to ensure transparency.

The Election Commission’s state office echoed this view, calling the claims “baseless and misleading”. In a statement, the Chief Electoral Officer clarified that all strong rooms across Bihar are triple-locked, monitored round the clock by armed forces and CCTV, and that no unauthorised movement of EVMs has occurred in any district.

A short video clip circulated by RJD supporters, showing what they claimed was a truck entering a secure zone, was later identified by the district administration as footage of a vehicle transporting empty containers. The DM’s office also released CCTV grabs from the site to counter the allegations.

Pattern of allegations through election week

This is the latest in a series of charges from the RJD during the Bihar Assembly election process. Over the past week, the party has alleged power cuts in select constituencies during polling, attempts to slow down voting in Mahagathbandhan-leaning areas, and temporary lapses in CCTV feeds at strong rooms in districts like Nalanda and Vaishali.

The Election Commission has denied each of these claims. Officials maintain that all polling stations and storage facilities were subject to continuous monitoring and that observers from multiple parties were present during sealing and transfer of EVMs.

Political analysts say such allegations are not unusual in close elections, especially in constituencies where margins are expected to be narrow. With the counting of votes scheduled to begin on Thursday morning, tensions remain high in several districts, though administrative officers insist the security arrangements are “foolproof”.

Election Commission urges calm before result day

State election authorities have appealed to political parties to avoid spreading misinformation that could “erode public trust” in the electoral system. Senior officers have been directed to brief candidates and their agents at each counting centre on surveillance procedures and provide access to relevant video footage when requested.

Meanwhile, the Grand Alliance leaders said they will continue to “monitor developments closely” and send written complaints to the Election Commission in Delhi.

With strong rooms now sealed under multi-layered security and counting only hours away, the focus will shift from allegations to results — but the episode in Sasaram underscores how fragile trust remains in Bihar’s fiercely contested elections.