RANCHI: In a dramatic escalation ahead of the 2026 Ranchi Municipal Corporation elections, Congress leaders stormed the State Election Commission on Monday, filing a detailed memorandum accusing the BJP of blatant voter bribery through branded biscuits. The party has demanded immediate and stringent action against what they call the BJP’s ‘biscuit model’ of electioneering.
The controversy centers around BJP-backed mayoral candidate whose election symbol—a biscuit—has been cleverly exploited. Supporters are distributing specially packaged biscuits featuring the candidate’s photo plastered on every packet. Adding fuel to the fire, the packaging site displayed a massive flex banner of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which Congress interprets as a desperate bid to leverage national leadership amid fears of local defeat.
‘BJP has lost faith in its own Jharkhand leaders and the people,’ thundered Congress representatives. ‘They’re resorting to Modi’s face because their candidate is staring at a humiliating loss.’ Videos of the distribution, shared openly on the official Facebook profile of a BJP state committee member, serve as ironclad evidence of an organized campaign, according to the complaint.
This isn’t just free snacks; it’s a calculated violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Distributing food items emblazoned with candidate images during elections is a textbook case of influencing voters, Congress argues. The Election Commission now faces mounting pressure to crack down before such tactics proliferate across the state.
As Ranchi gears up for a fiercely contested civic poll, this biscuit scandal underscores the lengths parties will go to secure votes. Will the Commission act swiftly, or will it set a precedent for future freebie frenzies? The coming days will reveal if electoral integrity holds firm against innovative inducements.