Bihar polls: RJD alleges EVM tampering in Nalanda; says CCTV cameras switched off for 30 minutes

PATNA: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday raised serious allegations of electoral malpractice in Bihar's Nalanda district, claiming CCTV cameras monitoring Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were switched off for about 30 minutes during the ongoing state assembly elections.The RJD shared a video on social media platform X showing the switched-off CCTV cameras, expressing concerns about illegal vehicle movement during the camera outages."Cameras on EVMs in Nalanda district remained switched off for half an hour! There was a huge commotion! Only then was the camera turned on! Every time the cameras are switched off, the movement of illegal vehicles starts in that area beforehand," the party posted.The party also criticized the Election Commission, suggesting it was compromising its integrity. "Every time, lame excuses are made! @ECISVEEP should not toy with its credibility and mandate," the post added.RJD candidate from Lalganj assembly constituency, Anu Shukla, reported similar issues in the Mahnar assembly on Saturday."The CCTV camera was working and we tried to switch on the one which was not working...but

in the morning we saw that a video has gone viral that the CCTV camera of Mahnar assembly is switched off, so we all were shocked, so we all have come and an investigation is going on here. There are people of Mahagathbandhan here, but not a single NDA person, because they are not scared, and we are scared," Shukla said.Congress, a Mahagathbandhan alliance partner, also raised concerns about electoral practices.

Party leader Pawan Khera alleged that union home minister Amit Shah held secret meetings with election officials."Whenever the Home Minister visits Patna, paper is pasted over the CCTV (cameras) in the hotel elevator. The Home Minister is secretly meeting with officials. Security is compromised. What meetings do you hold secretly?" Khera questioned.The allegations come on the last day of campaigning for the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections. The first phase saw a historic 65.08 percent voter turnout, the highest in the state's history.Elections for 122 assembly seats are scheduled for November 11, with results to be announced on November 14.