The Election Commission has issued a detailed clarification after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav raised questions about transparency
in the ongoing Bihar assembly elections.
At a press conference on Monday, Yadav had accused the commission of withholding gender-wise voter turnout data and alleged irregularities in the deployment of central forces across constituencies. The RJD leader claimed that the delay in releasing data and the uneven distribution of security personnel raised doubts about the impartiality of the poll process.
However, EC sources dismissed the allegations, terming them “factually incorrect and misleading”, and released a point-by-point rebuttal.
Gender-Wise Voter Turnout
Responding to Yadav’s charge that the EC was “hiding” gender-wise turnout data, the commission clarified that the male-female voter turnout ratio is released only after the final consolidated figures are received.
“The overall gender ratio in voter turnout is generally given at the time of the final turnout. It is not released phase-wise,” EC sources stated, adding that this has been the standard practice in all recent elections, including those in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Deployment of Security Forces
On the issue of force deployment, the EC clarified that nearly 80 per cent of the security personnel on duty in Bihar are drawn from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
“Only about 20 per cent are from State Armed Police (SAP) units,” an EC source said, noting that SAP contingents have been taken from 24 different states, including Jharkhand, Telangana, Kerala, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka.
The commission said this wide-ranging deployment ensures neutrality and uniform security standards across all districts.
Appointment of Observers
Yadav had also questioned whether observers were being selectively deployed. In response, the EC clarified that the appointment of observers is done proportionately from all states, irrespective of the ruling party in those states.
Functioning of CCTVs and Strong Rooms
On concerns about the security of strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are stored, the EC said that CCTV cameras are operational at all strong rooms.
“Wherever any malfunctioning has been noticed, it has been promptly rectified,” the commission assured, rejecting claims of irregular monitoring.
The Election Commission reiterated that it remains committed to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent electoral process in Bihar. The clarification, officials said, was issued to dispel misinformation and maintain voter confidence.
