Police personnel watch CCTV footage to monitor strong room where EVMs are kept after the first phase of Bihar Assembly election, at A.N. College in Patna on November 7, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj K. Jha has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI), expressing concern over reported electricity disruptions at strongrooms storing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Bihar. The disruptions, Mr. Jha said, raised serious questions about the security protocols in place at these facilities.
In his letter, Mr. Jha urged the ECI to take immediate cognisance of the issue and implement enhanced security measures to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. He called for round-the-clock CCTV surveillance at all entry and exit points of the strongroom premises, with real-time monitoring and secure storage of footage. He also sought verification to ensure that existing security arrangements were in full compliance with the standard operating procedures laid down by the ECI.
“The integrity of the electoral process is the cornerstone of our democracy, and public confidence in the sanctity of elections depends entirely on the transparent and foolproof security of EVMs,” Mr. Jha wrote, warning that any lapse “perceived or actual” could undermine public trust in the democratic process.
Voting for the second and the final phase of the ongoing Bihar Assembly election will take place on November 11.
Published – November 08, 2025 06:09 pm IST
