Patna Administration Clarifies Ink Mark Confusion on LJP MP Shambhavi Chaudhary's Fingers During Bihar Elections

LJP (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Chaudhary found herself at the center of controversy following a voting incident in Bihar.

The Patna District Administration issued a clarification on Saturday regarding a viral social media video showing ink marks on both fingers of LJP (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Chaudhary after she cast her vote in the Bihar assembly elections.

According to the official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), polling staff initially applied ink incorrectly to Chaudhary's right hand finger. The Presiding Officer subsequently intervened, ensuring ink was properly applied to her left hand finger as per voting protocols.

The administration emphasized in their clarification: "It is being confirmed that Honorable MP Smt. Shambhavi cast her vote only once at Serial No. 275 of the voter list at Polling Station No. 61, Sant Paul's Primary School, Buddha Colony in the 182-Bankipur Assembly Constituency."

This clarification came after Rashtriya Janata Dal's National Spokesperson Kanchana Yadav made serious allegations of voter fraud. Yadav claimed on social media that the ink marks on both of Chaudhary's fingers suggested she had voted twice, further alleging that her father Ashok Chaudhary was signaling to her with eye gestures when the matter came to light.

The incident occurred during the first phase of Bihar assembly polls on November 6, 2025, which saw a significant 65.08% voter turnout across 121 seats in 18 districts of the state.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar highlighted that this year's election witnessed an impressive increase in voter participation compared to previous elections. There was a 7.79% rise in turnout compared to the 2020 Bihar Assembly General Elections, which recorded 57.29% participation. Additionally, the turnout showed an 8.8% increase over the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections, which had a 56.28% participation rate.

The electoral contest features the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) – comprising BJP, JD(U), HAMS, LJP (RV), and allies – seeking to retain power for a second consecutive term. The opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance, including Congress, RJD, left parties, and VIP, is attempting to regain power in the state. Adding a new dynamic to the political landscape, the Jan Suraaj party made its electoral debut, contesting more than 200 seats independently.

These elections were conducted following the recently completed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a process that had drawn strong objections from opposition parties. The SIR is scheduled to be implemented in other states and union territories across India in due course.