Nepal Images Fuel Misinformation Following Bihar Elections in India

False Video Fuels Indian Election Controversy as Opposition Claims “Vote Theft”

A viral video purportedly showing protests in Bihar, India’s poorest state, following contentious regional elections has been debunked as footage from neighboring Nepal’s political unrest months earlier.

The misleading post, which circulated widely on social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook, claimed to show the BJP party office in Patna “set on fire” amid what it described as “uproar over vote theft” following the November 2025 Bihar elections. The video displayed a multi-story building engulfed in flames with superimposed text reading, “This is Bihar, Modi ji, you have chosen the wrong state to steal votes.”

Fact-checking efforts have revealed the footage actually shows the residence of Birgunj Mayor Rajesh Man Singh in Nepal, which was torched during widespread youth-led protests in September 2025. Romi Raja Samani, a journalist who originally filmed and posted the video, confirmed to AFP: “I recorded this video in September. It shows the Gen Z protests in Nepal… This has nothing to do with any political party in India.”

The Bihar state elections have been a contentious flashpoint in Indian politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated what he called a “resounding victory” for his BJP-led alliance in the eastern state, home to 130 million people. The election was widely viewed as a crucial test of Modi’s ability to translate India’s economic growth into benefits for its poorest citizens.

However, in the days following the polls, the opposition Congress party and its allies intensified accusations of electoral manipulation. They have repeatedly claimed the Election Commission sided with BJP, alleging “vote theft” helped secure the ruling coalition’s comfortable victory. The opposition has used the term “vote chori” (vote theft) extensively in its public messaging about the election results.

The Bihar results carry particular significance as the state is considered a political bellwether in India. With high poverty rates and complex socioeconomic challenges, Bihar’s voting patterns often signal broader political trends. The BJP-led coalition’s victory there strengthens Modi’s position ahead of future electoral contests.

Meanwhile, the mislabeled video actually depicts a very different political crisis. Nepal experienced deadly protests in September after its government imposed a social media ban, triggering widespread demonstrations against corruption, economic hardship, and rising violence. The unrest quickly escalated, with protesters setting fire to parts of parliament and the Supreme Court, ultimately forcing the government to collapse. Police reported at least 76 deaths during two days of unrest, including 63 protesters.

This incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation surrounding elections in South Asia. False narratives spread through social media can inflame tensions in regions already experiencing political polarization. Verification efforts by media organizations have become increasingly important in distinguishing authentic protest documentation from misleading content.

Despite the opposition’s allegations about the Bihar election, no official reports have confirmed widespread protests in the eastern state following the results. This marks one of several instances of election-related misinformation that fact-checkers have debunked in the wake of the Bihar polls.

As political tensions persist in India’s democratic landscape, the spread of such misleading content underscores the critical need for media literacy and rigorous fact-checking in the region’s information ecosystem.