A high-voltage political clash erupted in Bihar on Thursday after the convoy of Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha was allegedly attacked in Lakhisarai district, prompting him to vow "bulldozer action" against the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) once the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) returns to power.
The incident, which occurred on a day when the state witnessed polling for the first phase of assembly elections, has intensified the already bitter electoral battle, with both sides trading sharp accusations.
The Incident and Allegations
Sinha, the NDA nominee seeking a fourth consecutive term from the Lakhisarai assembly constituency, was visiting Khoriari village when his convoy was reportedly surrounded by a group of people. The assailants allegedly pelted stones, threw cow dung, and chanted slogans of 'murdabad'.
Addressing the media immediately after the incident, an agitated Vijay Sinha directly blamed the RJD for the attack.
"These are the goons of RJD," Sinha declared. He then issued a stark warning, stating, "Satta mein aa rahi hai NDA... inke chhati pe bulldozer chalega (The NDA is coming to power... the bulldozer will run over their chests)."
He further accused the protesters of preventing him from visiting the village and detailed other alleged electoral malpractices. "Vijay Sinha is going to win... They turned away my polling agent and did not let him vote... Look at their hooliganism... This is 404 and 405 booth numbers of Khoriari village," he told reporters.
RJD Refutes Claims, Counters with Its Own Allegations
The RJD was swift and vehement in its denial, turning the tables on the Deputy CM. The party claimed that Sinha himself was responsible for orchestrating the incident.
RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav refuted the allegations, telling PTI, "He (Sinha) is a liar. He gets Z+ Security; it's his party that is in power in the state and controls the administration."
The counter-allegation implies that the incident was a staged drama to garner sympathy votes and deflect from governance issues.
Election Commission and Police Respond
The high-profile nature of the incident drew an immediate response from the Election Commission of India (ECI). An official quoted Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar as directing officials to take "immediate action."
"No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Strict action will be taken against the miscreants," the ECI official stated.
On the ground, Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar confirmed that police patrolling had been intensified in the area. However, he offered a more cautious initial assessment, suggesting the protests may have been linked to local grievances.
"I have received reports of some protests over broken roads, but I will be able to confirm what actually happened only after visiting the site," SP Kumar said.
The attack on a senior minister's convoy on polling day has cast a shadow over the electoral process in the constituency. With the NDA promising retaliatory "bulldozer justice" and the RJD accusing the government of misusing state machinery, the political temperature in Bihar has soared, setting a tense stage for the remaining phases of the election.
Leave Your Comment