LJP MP’s Two Inked Fingers After Bihar Phase 1 Trigger Oppn's ‘Vote Chori’ Claim - What Patna Officials Said

Patna: Amid the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, a controversy erupted around Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MP Shambhavi Chaudhary, who was seen displaying two inked fingers after casting her vote in the first phase of the high-stakes polls. A video of her went viral on social media, triggering reactions from the Opposition, which questioned whether she had voted twice.Issuing a clarification, the Patna District Administration stated that the incident was a result of an error by the polling staff.According to the authorities, a polling official mistakenly applied indelible ink to the finger of her right hand. However, the MP had voted only once, at serial number 275 of the voter list at Polling Station No. 61 in Sant Paul’s Primary

School.Shambhavi Chaudhary’s two inked fingers after Phase 1 of polling gave fresh ammunition to the Opposition’s ‘vote chori’ charge, especially as Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi has been alleging massive voter fraud by the Election Commission and the Centre.However, putting an end to the speculation, the Patna District Administration issued a statement on X, “A video is being circulated on social media regarding ink marks on both fingers of Shambhavi Chaudhary after casting her vote. In this connection, inquiries were made from the Presiding Officer of Polling Station No. 61, Sant Paul's Primary School, Buddha Colony (Northern Room of the Main Section) of 182-Bankipur Assembly Constituency. He has clarified that the polling staff responsible for applying ink had mistakenly applied it to the finger of the right hand.”

“After the intervention of the Presiding Officer, ink was also applied to the finger of the left hand. It is being clarified that MP Shambhavi cast her vote only at Serial No. 275 of the voter list of Polling Station No. 61, Sant Paul's Primary School, Buddha Colony (Northern Room of the Main Section) of 182-Bankipur Assembly Constituency,” the statement added.

Bihar Assembly elections are being held in two phases. Voting in the first phase on 121 seats has already concluded on November 6, while polling in remaining 122 seats is set for November 11. The results will be declared on November 14.