Patna, November 7, 2025: A video of Shambhavi Chaudhary, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP from Samastipur, has gone viral after she was seen with ink marks on both hands after voting in the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections on Thursday. While some social media users accused her of voting twice, others said the dual ink marks were likely due to a routine polling mix-up. Meanwhile, Shambhavi called it a “human error” that should not be turned into an issue.
The video, filmed outside a polling booth, shows 27-year-old Shambhavi posing in front of cameras alongside her father, JD(U) leader Ashok Chaudhary, and her mother, Neeta Chaudhary. The family had just voted and were flaunting their inked fingers to the media.
In the clip, Shambhavi first raises her right hand to show an inked finger, then quickly switches to her left hand, which also bears an ink mark. The moment, captured on video, has since been shared widely across social media platforms, sparking intense debate.
Shambhavi Calls It a ‘Human Error’
Amid the controversy, Shambhavi Chaudhary clarified that the polling official had mistakenly marked ink on her right hand, but the presiding officer immediately corrected the error and asked staff to apply it correctly on the left hand instead. “That’s why both my fingers have ink marks,” she said, adding that she had already clarified the situation through a video statement.
Congress and RJD Allege ‘Fraud’
Reacting to the viral video, Kanchana Yadav, national spokesperson of the RJD, shared the clip on X and wrote in Hindi, “This is a whole new level of fraud. This is LJP MP Shambhavi Chaudhary. She has ink on both hands, meaning she voted twice. When this came to light, her father Ashok Chaudhary was seen signalling her with his eyes. Election Commission, how is this happening? Who will investigate this?”
Congress also shared her pictures on social media, alleging vote theft with sarcastic remarks aimed at the ruling alliance.
Netizens Mock and Question the Clip
Several users online claimed that the double ink marks proved voting irregularities. “That expression says it all. Looks like someone accidentally revealed a little too much on camera,” wrote one user. Another commented, “The election process in India is a joke… The clown @ECISVEEP is the solo reason for it.”
Others mocked the Election Commission, tagging it sarcastically: “Wow @ECISVEEP! Your transparency, effectiveness, and pleasantness are truly commendable. The South African election chief is eager to learn how you achieve such remarkable results,” one post read.
Another user wrote bluntly, “NDA waalon ko 2,2 vote allow hai kya @ECISVEEP?” questioning the fairness of the process.
Supporters Cite Routine Polling Error
Amid the criticism, many users came to Shambhavi’s defense, claiming the viral claims were misleading. Several pointed out that double-inking incidents were not uncommon at polling booths and usually happened when officials marked the wrong hand by mistake.
“You can just ask them to apply ink on your other finger as well. Last time when my younger sister (then 8 years old) went to the booth, they also inked her finger because she asked nicely. That doesn’t mean she got to vote. The opposition is so washed, it’s all they got!” one user wrote.
Another explained, “The hand and finger are fixed for an election. You can’t vote twice just by having marks on two different hands.”
Users further clarified that polling staff often ink the wrong hand or finger first and then correct it. “It happens when you give your right hand first instead of left, and the polling officials don’t notice. Common error. To prevent double voting, they ink again on the left hand,” one user said.
Election Commission’s Standard Practice
In India, polling officials typically mark the left index finger of a voter with indelible ink. However, if a voter mistakenly presents the right hand first, officials may reapply the mark correctly on the left finger. Such procedural corrections are not considered double voting under the Election Commission’s rules.
According to Election Commission of India guidelines, the indelible ink mark ensures one vote per person, and even if multiple fingers bear marks, it does not indicate multiple votes unless verified by booth records.
Conclusion: A Viral Mix-Up, Not Misconduct
The Shambhavi Chaudhary ink controversy underscores how quickly social media can turn minor polling errors into viral political debates. While opposition parties used the clip to allege misconduct, Election Commission procedures and expert opinions suggest it was a simple human mistake — not electoral fraud.
As Bihar’s elections continue, the incident highlights the importance of clarity in polling procedures and responsible sharing of information during sensitive democratic processes.