'Lock them up inside homes on polling day': Lalan Singh's remark against Opposition leaders stokes row; FIR lodged, minister gets EC notice

Patna: Taking umbrage over blatant violation of model code of conduct, the Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notice to the Union Minister and Nitish Kumar’s closest aide Lalan Singh for his controversial remarks in Mokama and asked him to reply within 24 hours.

An FIR has also been registered against the Union Minister for his “don’t allow them to vote.....lock them up inside their homes” statement in Mokama.

Canvassing for the jailed JD (U) nominee Anant Singh, who was arrested on Sunday in the Dularchand Yadav murder case, the Union Minister reportedly asked his supporters in Mokama to 'ensure these people do not turn up to vote. Lock them up inside their homes. And if at all, they beg before you with folded hands to allow them to vote, then accompany them to the polling booth and ask them to go off to sleep after voting'.

Lalan was seemingly referring to the downtrodden voters of the area.

Shocked over such flexing of arms and trying to bulldoze the poor sections of Mokama, the RJD lodged a strong protest with the Election Commission asking the poll body to “take strict action for arm-twisting and threatening the poor voters.”

Sharing a video of the Union Minister, the RJD accused Lalan Singh of “running a bulldozer on the chest of the Election Commission”, in an oblique reference to how Jan Suraaj supporter Dularchand Yadav was run over reportedly by Anant’s men last week.

Caste factor

Lallan Singh, who belongs to the upper caste Bhumihar community, was canvassing for his fellow casteman and JD (U) nominee from Mokama, Anant Singh, who has been lodged in Patna’s Beur jail following murder of Dularchand Yadav.

Assuring everyone that he has taken up the cudgels on behalf of “Anant Babu”, Lalan said, “I am here till elections and will work here in the absence of Anant Babu, who is a law-abiding citizen and got himself arrested.... One Anant has been arrested. But I appeal to all of you to turn into an Anant and ensure the victory of the JD (U) candidate.”

RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti urged the EC to “wake up from the slumber, verify the remarks made by the Union Minister and take appropriate action.”

Meanwhile, the Patna administration said an FIR has been registered against the Union Minister under relevant sections of the Representation of the People’s Act.

“The video footage was examined..... Following the investigation, an FIR has been registered against Shri Lalan Singh alias Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh....,” the Patna district administration posted it on X.