Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Sinha’ Convoy Attacked, BJP Blames RJD Goons

The first phase of the crucial Bihar Assembly elections was marred by an incident of political violence on Thursday, as the convoy of Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, Vijay Kumar Sinha, was reportedly attacked in the Lakhisarai district. The Deputy CM, who is contesting from the Lakhisarai constituency, squarely placed the blame on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), labeling the assailants as “goons of RJD.”

The incident occurred as Sinha’s convoy attempted to enter Khoriari village, a region within his constituency where polling was underway. Eyewitness accounts and video footage from the scene show a large, agitated mob surrounding the Deputy CM’s vehicle, shouting slogans, and physically obstructing its movement.

Allegations of Stone-Pelting and Hooliganism

According to Mr. Sinha, the attackers hurled stones, cow dung, and slippers at his car and other vehicles in his cavalcade. He alleged that the assault was a deliberate attempt by RJD supporters to intimidate voters and disrupt the polling process, especially targeting voters from extremely backward classes.

“These are the goons of RJD,” Sinha stated emphatically to the media following the incident. “They know the NDA is returning to power, that’s why they have resorted to hooliganism.” The Deputy CM further claimed that his polling agent had been threatened and turned away from booth numbers 404 and 405 in Khoriari village.

Sinha expressed deep dissatisfaction with the local police, whom he called “cowardly and weak,” for their alleged inaction in controlling the crowd and maintaining law and order. He demanded the immediate deployment of central security forces and announced his decision to stage a protest at the very village where the attack occurred. He also vowed to raise the matter directly with the Election Commission (EC).

EC Takes Cognisance, RJD Denies Role

The attack swiftly drew the attention of election authorities. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took immediate cognisance of the situation, directing the Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) to take “strict action against the miscreants” and assuring that “no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.”

Meanwhile, the opposition RJD has vehemently denied any role in the incident. RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav dismissed Sinha’s allegations as “false” and “baseless,” suggesting the protest might have been a spontaneous reaction from local villagers concerning issues like broken roads.

The Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police, Ajay Kumar, confirmed reports of a protest, stating that it was by “local villagers” and that the situation was brought under control. He, however, noted that a full confirmation of the events, including the reported stone-pelting, would only be possible after a thorough investigation of the site.

The clash has injected a dose of volatility into the high-stakes election, with the Deputy CM vowing, in a sharp warning to the opposition, that a “bulldozer will run on the chest of RJD” once the NDA returns to power.

The incident underscores the deeply charged atmosphere as polling progresses in 121 constituencies, determining the fate of several key political figures from both the NDA and the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan.