Bihar, Nov 4 : A video of Union minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh has sparked a political storm in poll-bound Bihar. In the viral clip, shared by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on social media, Lalan Singh is heard urging his supporters not to allow opposition leaders and candidates to leave their homes to cast their votes on polling day. He further suggests that if they insist, his supporters should accompany them to the booth.
While the minister did not specify whom he was referring to, the Election Commission of India (ECI) swiftly responded, issuing a notice to Lalan Singh after the RJD filed a formal complaint. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar confirmed that the matter is under review.
The RJD accused the minister of voter intimidation, claiming he was encouraging unlawful interference in the voting process in the Mokama Assembly constituency.
“Union Minister Lalan Singh, while bulldozing the Election Commission’s authority, is saying that the poor should not be allowed to leave their homes on the day of voting! Where is the dead Election Commission?” the RJD wrote on its official X handle.
The controversy comes just days before the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Election, scheduled for November 6, with campaigning ending this evening. Lalan Singh has been actively campaigning for JD(U) candidate Anant Singh, who is currently in jail for his alleged involvement in the murder of Dularchand Yadav, killed during a recent clash between JD(U) and Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) supporters in Mokama.
Speaking at a rally, Lalan Singh reportedly said, “We will not let the people of Mokama feel the absence of Anant Singh.”
Voting for Bihar’s 243 Assembly seats will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11, while the counting of votes is set for November 14.