Bihar Polls: Deputy CM Sinha says "goons of RJD" attacked his convoy in Lakhisarai; RJD calls it "petty antics"

Patna (Bihar) [India], November 6 : During the first phase of polling in Bihar's 121 assembly constituencies, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Lakhisarai, Vijay Kumar Sinha, on Thursday, faced an alleged attack while visiting a polling booth in Khoriari village.
Allegedly, Sinha's convoy was surrounded by "the goons of RJD" who hurled stones, cow dung, and slippers, chanting slogans of "Murdabad."
Speaking to ANI, Sinha said, "These are the goons of RJD. Satta mein aa rahi hai NDA isliye inke chhati pe bulldozer chalega. The goons are not letting me visit the village. Vijay Sinha is going to win...They turned away my polling agent and did not let him vote...Look at their hooliganism...This is 404 and 405 booth numbers of Khoriari village."
He also asserted, "I will not let Jungle Raj prevail in Bihar. There will be no jungle raj in Bihar as long as Vijay Sinha is there..."
However, RJD strongly dismissed the allegation made by Sinha, calling it a "petty antics".
https://x.com/RJDforIndia/status/1986370288033153230
"Even after a million pleas in 10 years, Vijay Sinha hasn't gotten even a single road built! Today, he's going there and taunting the voters that a road will never be built! In Pratappur village of Pratappur Panchayat in Halsi block of Lakhisarai Assembly constituency, voters have raised the slogan "No Road, No Vote" against Vijay Sinha's petty antics!," RJD wrote on X.
Bihar Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Munger range, Rakesh Kumar, said that strict action will be taken against those responsible in the Lakhisarai incident. He added that voting in Munger, Lakhisarai, and Sheikhpura is continuing peacefully.
Speaking to ANI, DIG Rakesh Kumar said, "I've spoken with the local candidate, Deputy CM, whoever is responsible for this incident will face strict action. An investigation is currently underway. There are three areas under me: Munger, Lakhisarai, and Sheikhpura. Voting is going on peacefully in all three areas. There has been no disruption to voting at all in this area."
"RJD supporters surrounded the car of Deputy CM and BJP candidate from Lakhisarai constituency, Vijay Kumar Sinha, today, and hurled slippers, pelted stones and chanted "Murdabad", forbidding him from entering Khoriari village," he added.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar also directed the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) to take immediate action after supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) allegedly surrounded the convoy of BJP candidate Vijay Kumar Sinha in Khoriari village, hurling stones and cow dung while chanting slogans of "Murdabad."
According to ECI, no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Strict action will be taken against the miscreants. CEC Gyanesh Kumar has directed the DGP of Bihar to take immediate action. All voters are requested to cast their votes without any kind of fear in their respective booths.
RJD MLC Ajay Kumar Singh refuted this allegation, claiming that Sinha's camp engages in "hooliganism" out of frustration.
"His people stopped our car and resorted to hooliganism. He is distraught because he has lost the election. Vijay Sinha's chapter is closed. He was not attacked. He had been trying to stage this drama for several days," Singh said.
Congress allies used the incident on the alleged NDA's "gundaraj" and claimed that public trust is declining.
Speaking on the same, Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, "One should not go to polling stations, especially a person who has become obscure."
Additionally, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari added, "The Deputy Chief Minister travels with security. No worker from any other party can meet him. I had received information that the people there were very angry with him. The people have expressed their anger. From this, one can gauge that if this is the condition of the Deputy Chief Minister, then what will be the condition of the NDA?"
Congress leader Harish Rawat went further, interpreting the cow dung attack as a sign of deep resentment among the people against the ruling party. "Throwing cow dung means there is deep resentment among the people against the ruling party. Even while campaigning, the NDA ministers and leaders have been chased away," he said.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit condemned violence outright and said, "Any kind of violence in politics, especially in elections, must be condemned... If any violence has occurred, I hope the administration's response will be very harsh. Whoever has done this should be punished... Sometimes it is public anger, and sometimes it is controversy from your opposition party..."
Congress leader Pawan Khera said Bihar's 'gundaraj' backfired, and his party will form the government with an absolute majority. "...We have been saying that there is 'gundaraj' in Bihar. Today, they themselves had to suffer the consequences of 'gundaraj'...We are forming the government in Bihar with an absolute majority," Khera added.
NDA leaders united, calling the attack RJD's "anarchist" act out of election frustration.
Speaking to reporters, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, "The anarchist elements of the Mahagathbandhan have continuously done such things in many places. However, cases have come to light in some places, but not in many...Their disappointment is now visible because in the voting that took place today, NDA is ahead in at least 75% of the seats."
Actor-BJP leader Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' blamed RJD's history of "hooliganism," adding, "The people of the RJD have always indulged in hooliganism here... The public is responding to their hooliganism and is once again forming the NDA government..."
UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak condemned the "unruly elements," urging the Election Commission to take "strict action" and reaffirming the NDA's commitment to fair polls.
"The attack on Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha by unruly elements in Lakhisarai today is highly condemnable... The Election Commission of India will take strict action on this... The NDA and BJP are in favour of fair elections in Bihar in every situation... We strongly condemn this incident... The NDA is going to form a government with a huge majority in Bihar," he said.
Meanwhile, the State Election Department's Additional Secretary, Madhav Kumar, confirmed that the situation is now peaceful, with investigations underway.
"The Election Commission has taken cognisance of the incident in Lakhisarai. District administration officials and police are present at the spot. The situation is peaceful now and action will be taken after the investigation," he said.
Bihar recorded the highest ever voter turnout of 64.66 per cent in the first phase of assembly elections on Thursday, with the voting on 121 seats concluding peacefully.
A total of 3.75 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in the first phase polls and the polling covered 18 districts of the state.
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, polling took place in three phases. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 125 seats, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan (MGB) won 110. Among the major parties, the Janata Dal (United) bagged 43 seats and the Congress 19.
The JD(U) had contested 115 constituencies and the BJP 110, whereas the RJD contested 144 seats and the Congress 70.