On the eve of the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls, a serious allegation of vote inducement emerged in Darbhanga’s Hayaghat constituency (Assembly Seat No. 84). Local villagers from Sirua village reported discovering a man distributing cash in bundles, approximately ₹ 89,000, along with campaign material associated with the sitting BJP MLA, Ramchandra Prasad Sah. District authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident.
According to eyewitnesses, the funds and promotional leaflets were found late on Wednesday night as several men appeared to be handing over money to prospective voters. Their suspicion grew when the materials included posters and brochures bearing the candidate’s name, prompting villagers to detain one of the individuals and hand him over to the Baheri police station. The constituency, which hosts a diverse electorate including Yadavs, Koeris, Muslims and upper-caste groups has become a high-stakes battleground this cycle, with the incumbent facing strong challenge from Bhola Yadav of the RJD.
The timing and scale of the cash recovery have raised serious questions about the fairness and integrity of the campaign process. Local observers point to the possibility that such inducement tactics could distort the free choice of voters, particularly in rural pockets where financial incentives resonate. Election machinery is now under pressure to respond swiftly: security has been tightened, and auxiliary teams are monitoring not just cash movement but also suspicious campaign vehicles and flyers. This episode underscores the heightened atmosphere of vigilance in Bihar’s electoral zone even as
