Bihar MLC bypoll: RJD supporter grabs magistrate's collar at Ara polling booth
Synopsis
An otherwise tightly secured Bihar MLC bypoll was rattled when an RJD supporter allegedly grabbed a magistrate's collar at an Ara polling booth, after candidate Sonu Kumar accused the official of favouring the NDA. With counting on 14 May, the Bhojpur-Buxar seat — vacated by a JD(U) defection — is now a direct test of RJD versus NDA strength on the ground.
Key Takeaways
Voting for the Bhojpur-Buxar MLC bypoll was held on 12 May across 14 polling stations in Bhojpur district, Bihar .
An RJD supporter allegedly grabbed the collar of duty Magistrate Shashi Bhushan Tiwari at the Ara Sadar Block polling station amid bias allegations.
The primary contest is between NDA candidate Kanhaiya Prasad and RJD candidate Sonu Kumar .
The seat fell vacant after JD(U) leader Radha Charan Sah resigned following his 2025 Bihar Assembly election win from Sandesh .
Vote counting is scheduled for 14 May ; 14 Zonal Magistrates and four Super-Zonal Magistrates were deployed for security.
Voting for the Bhojpur-Buxar Legislative Council by-election was underway on 12 May under tight security across 14 polling stations in Bihar's Bhojpur district, but the otherwise orderly process was briefly disrupted by a physical altercation at a booth in Ara. The incident, which involved an RJD supporter allegedly grabbing the collar of an on-duty magistrate, was captured on video and spread widely on social media.
What Happened at the Ara Booth
The confrontation unfolded at the polling station located inside the Ara Sadar Block office. RJD candidate Sonu Kumar alleged that the magistrate posted at the entrance was facilitating voting in favour of the NDA candidate — a charge that triggered a heated argument between Kumar, his supporters, and duty Magistrate Shashi Bhushan Tiwari.
The situation escalated when an RJD supporter allegedly grabbed the collar of Magistrate Tiwari during a dispute over identity verification. Sources indicate the confrontation intensified partly because the magistrate was reportedly not wearing his official identity card while on duty. The scuffle caused panic and commotion at the booth before police and administrative officials present at the site intervened and restored order.
Security Arrangements in Place
To maintain law and order, the district administration deployed 14 Zonal Magistrates and four Super-Zonal Magistrates across all polling stations. Additional police personnel and security forces were also stationed at each centre. A district-level control room was set up to monitor proceedings, with live webcasting and videography arrangements in place at all booths. Despite the disruption at Ara, authorities ensured voting resumed smoothly.
The Contest and Key Candidates
The by-election has three candidates in the fray, with the primary contest between NDA candidate Kanhaiya Prasad and RJD candidate Sonu Kumar. Voting began at 8 am and was scheduled to continue until 4 pm, with counting of votes set for 14 May.
Why the Seat Fell Vacant
The bypoll was necessitated by a casual vacancy following the resignation of Janata Dal (United) leader Radha Charan Sah, who won the Bihar Assembly election from the Sandesh Assembly constituency in 2025. His departure from the Legislative Council seat triggered the electoral process now underway. The outcome on 14 May will be closely watched as a gauge of ground-level support for both the NDA alliance and the RJD in this constituency.
Point of View
And those officials are reportedly not even wearing their identity cards, the credibility of the electoral process itself comes under question. Bihar's MLC bypolls have historically been lower-profile affairs, but the RJD-NDA rivalry in Bhojpur-Buxar has clearly raised the temperature. The administration's swift intervention prevented escalation, but the viral video ensures the optics will linger well past counting day on 14 May. Election authorities would do well to address the identity card lapse transparently — small procedural failures, left unaddressed, feed larger narratives about institutional bias.
NationPress
13 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bhojpur-Buxar MLC bypoll?
It is a by-election to the Bihar Legislative Council seat covering Bhojpur and Buxar districts, held on 12 May 2025. The seat fell vacant after JD(U) leader Radha Charan Sah resigned following his 2025 Bihar Assembly election win from the Sandesh constituency.
What happened at the Ara polling booth during the bypoll?
RJD candidate Sonu Kumar alleged that the magistrate at the Ara Sadar Block polling station was facilitating votes for the NDA candidate. The dispute escalated when an RJD supporter allegedly grabbed the collar of duty Magistrate Shashi Bhushan Tiwari; police intervened and restored order.
Who are the main candidates in the Bhojpur-Buxar MLC bypoll?
The primary contest is between NDA candidate Kanhaiya Prasad and RJD candidate Sonu Kumar, with a total of three candidates in the fray.
When will the votes be counted?
Counting of votes for the Bhojpur-Buxar MLC bypoll is scheduled for 14 May 2025.
What security arrangements were made for the bypoll?
The administration deployed 14 Zonal Magistrates and four Super-Zonal Magistrates across all 14 polling stations, along with additional police personnel. A district-level control room with live webcasting and videography was also set up to monitor proceedings.
