Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha faced an attack on his convoy in Khoriari village, Lakhisarai district, on polling day of the Bihar Assembly elections. Reports said unidentified individuals threw stones, cow dung, and slippers at his vehicle, leading the BJP to allege the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) orchestrated the assault.

Video footage from the site showed a group surrounding Sinha’s car, raising slogans of “murdabad” and blocking his entry into the village. Sinha, a three-time MLA contesting from Lakhisarai, told ANI, “These are RJD’s goons. They know the NDA is returning to power, that’s why they have resorted to hooliganism. They turned away my polling agent and didn’t let him vote. Look at their behaviour at booths 404 and 405 in Khoriari.”

The Deputy CM criticised the local police as “cowardly and weak” and demanded the deployment of central forces. He also announced plans to stage a protest in the village. The police, however, stated that it was a protest by local residents and confirmed that voting was proceeding peacefully.

CEC Orders Strict Action in Bihar

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar directed the Bihar DGP to take strict action, warning that “no one will be allowed to break the law and order.” The Election Commission urged voters to cast their ballots without fear.

Earlier, Sinha visited the Jagdamba Temple to offer prayers before voting. By 1 pm, the voter turnout across the state’s 121 constituencies in the first phase was 42.31 per cent.

This phase of polling is critical for key leaders including Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav of the RJD, as well as Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary. Important constituencies include Raghopur, Mahua, and Tarapur.

BJP Alleges RJD Hooliganism

Sinha claimed the attack prevented his polling agent from voting, adding, “They turned away my polling agent and did not allow him to vote. Look at their hooliganism. This happened at booth numbers 404 and 405 in Khoriari village.” The BJP condemned the incident, saying such violence shows opposition frustration over losing public support.

Police officers at the scene intervened to restore order. Deputy Inspector General Rakesh Kumar stated, “Whoever is responsible for this incident will face strict action. Voting in the entire district is going on peacefully.”

Amid the tense environment, political leaders called for robust voter participation. Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha expressed confidence in an NDA win, while Bihar Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav described voting as a “festival of democracy.”

Polling began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm in most areas, although some booths have shorter hours for security reasons. The first phase outcome is expected to influence the fortunes of several prominent ministers and leaders in Bihar.