PATNA: A day before the second phase of polling in Bihar, a purported video of BJP MLA and Chiraiya candidate Lalbabu Prasad Gupta allegedly handing out cash to voters went viral on social media on Monday, triggering a political row
In the clip — posted just hours ahead of voting — Gupta is purportedly seen giving money to a woman while other locals look on.
The viral video has led to uproar in the district’s political circles.
Following the circulation of the video, police have registered a case against the BJP candidate for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
East Champaran SP Swarn Prabhat said the viral clip shows a candidate with some people who had money in their hands, which prima facie amounts to a breach of the MCC. The FIR has been lodged at the Patahi police station.
The Election Commission has already deployed additional surveillance teams across poll-bound districts for Phase 2, but the episode underscores continued attempts at inducement despite heavy enforcement.
In another poll-related controversy ahead of Phase-2 voting in Bihar, a video claiming that VVPAT slips were found lying in a roadside ditch in the Maharajganj Assembly constituency of Siwan district went viral on Monday.