How Did Polling Booths Get Captured in the 1990s?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kiren Rijiju shared a video from the 1990s highlighting electoral malpractices.
- The video showcases booth capturing under the RJD government led by Lalu Yadav.
- The upcoming Bihar elections are expected to focus on claims of vote chori.
- The BJP is actively countering the Opposition's narrative.
- The Voter Adhikar Yatra aimed to educate voters about their rights.
New Delhi, Sep 14 (NationPress) In a bold move against the Opposition (RJD-Congress coalition) and their ongoing allegations regarding vote theft, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju shared a revealing video from the 1990s, shedding light on the notorious 'jungle raj' period in Bihar.
This video, which allegedly depicts instances of poll booth capturing during the tenure of the then Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) government, highlights the extensive misuse of power that characterized Lalu Yadav's administration, effectively countering the Opposition's claims of 'vote chori'.
On his X account, Rijiju remarked, "Just look at how vote theft occurred in your era! The biggest thief is now accusing others of theft!"
The footage, dated back to 1998, shows a ballot box placed seemingly in a rural field instead of an official polling location.
Locals and villagers are seen stamping voter slips and depositing them into the ballot boxes, with no poll officials present, as per the footage.
During the 1990s, the Lalu Yadav regime became infamous not only for its 'jungle raj' but also for widespread booth capturing during elections.
The forthcoming Assembly elections in Bihar are expected to heavily focus on the Opposition's narrative of 'vote chori'.
In response to these allegations, the BJP has ramped up its efforts to counter the RJD-Congress accusations while also highlighting significant electoral misconduct and crimes from that period.
Recently, Bihar witnessed a 14-day Voter Adhikar Yatra, spearheaded by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, which covered numerous districts to inform citizens about how the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was 'robbing' their rights.
Rahul Gandhi asserted that he would prevent any form of vote theft in Bihar and criticized the SIR as a collusion between the election commission and BJP.
The BJP responded by stating that the Opposition's claims of 'vote theft' reflect their growing frustration as the Bihar elections approach.
Bihar is set to hold elections in the coming months, prompting political parties to intensify their campaigns to win public support.