What Sparked the Storm?
A 30-second video went mega-viral on X (formerly Twitter) showing Shambhavi Chaudhary proudly posing with her family outside a polling booth, smiling and flashing both index fingers — each marked with indelible ink.
The caption she posted herself:
"Voted in Bihar with full enthusiasm! Democracy wins when youth participate. #BiharElections2025"
But within minutes, sharp-eyed users zoomed in:
👉 Right index finger — ink from Delhi Assembly Elections (Feb 2025)
👉 Left index finger — fresh ink from Bihar Phase 1 (Nov 6, 2025)
Instant Allegation:
"She voted TWICE — once in Delhi, once in Bihar! Proof of vote chori!"
How It Escalated
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 9:30 AM | Video posted by Shambhavi |
| 10:15 AM | Congress social media cell shares cropped version with text: "BJP MP votes in TWO states!" |
| 11:00 AM | Rahul Gandhi tweets: |
"BJP leaders who voted in Delhi are now voting in Bihar. This is not just vote chori — this is murder of democracy."
→ 1.2M views in 2 hours |
| 11:30 AM | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in rally:
"See their MP — two fingers, two votes! ECI is silent. Shame!" |
| 12:00 PM | #DoubleInk trends with #VoteChori — 600k+ mentions |
Shambhavi’s Defense
By 2:00 PM, Shambhavi posted a clarification video:
"This was a human error at the polling booth. The BLO (Booth Level Officer) applied ink on the wrong finger by mistake. I voted only once in Bihar — serial no. 275, Booth 142, Bankipur. My Delhi vote was in February. Check records!"
She shared:
- Voter slip
- EVM entry log (signed by polling agent)
- Affidavit stating no dual voting
Official Response
- Patna District Election Officer (DEO):
"Confirmed: Shambhavi Chaudhary cast only one vote in Bihar. Ink on left finger was applied accidentally. No violation of Section 177 (false declaration) or RPC."
- ECI Statement (Nov 7):
"Isolated procedural lapse. Presiding officer counseled. No evidence of duplicate voting."
- BJP Spokesperson:
"Opposition turning a clerical error into conspiracy. They fear defeat, so they cry fraud."
Opposition’s Counter-Attack
Congress released a list of 47 NDA leaders allegedly registered in two states, claiming:
- 29 voted in Haryana/Delhi
- 18 voted in Bihar Phase 1
- Demanded VVPAT audit in 10 constituencies
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav:
"If one MP can show two inks, imagine how many fake votes were cast in secret!"
Was It Really Fraud?
| Evidence FOR Fraud | Evidence AGAINST Fraud |
|---|---|
| Visual: Two inked fingers | Official voter log: Only one entry |
| Timing: Delhi vote in Feb 2025 | BLO confession: "Applied ink on wrong hand" |
| Pattern: Other dual-voter claims | No duplicate EVM beep or VVPAT slip |
Verdict (as of Nov 8):
No proof of double voting — just a booth-level mistake. But the optics were deadly.
Why It Mattered
- Fueled "Vote Chori" Narrative
→ Became Poster Case for Congress’s anti-ECI campaign - Amplified on Social Media
→ Memes, AI edits, fake "double VVPAT slips" flooded X - Damaged NDA’s Youth Icon
→ Shambhavi (PhD, youngest MP) was NDA’s Gen-Z face. Now trolled as "Double Vote Didi" - ECI on Backfoot
→ Forced to issue daily clarifications during Phase 2
Final Outcome (So Far)
- No FIR against Shambhavi
- BLO issued show-cause notice
- ECI mandates training on "correct finger inking"
- Congress uses clip in rallies till counting day (Nov 23)
Moral of the Story:
In 2025’s hyper-digital elections, one wrong finger can spark a national firestorm — even if the vote was cast just once.
"Ink doesn’t lie. But cameras do."
— Anonymous X user (12K likes)