The husband of a sitting councillor has allegedly launched a negative campaign to ensure that her wife retains a ward in the Darbhanga Municipal Corporation.

Navin Sinha has allegedly distributed leaflets, urging voters to support the challengers of his wife and sitting councillor, Madhubula Sinha.

Gayatri Yadav, one of the candidates in ward number 21 of Darbhanga Municipal Corporation, alleged that the leaflets had been distributed in various areas. The leaflets appeal to voters not to support Madhubula, but to vote for Gayatri and Saiful Nisha.

She added that Navin had allegedly hatched the plan to distribute the leaflets, which carried the signature of the former mayor, Ajay Paswan.

“As I came to know about the leaflets, I tried to gather information from the voters. I got to know that the plan was hatched by Madhubala’s husband. This is not the first time that Navin has scripted such a deceitful plan. His aim is simple: distribute the leaflets, which speak about Madhubala’s involvement in corruption, in a way that the voters feel that it is her competitors’ handiwork and become sympathetic towards his wife,” Gayatri told The Telegraph.

“I have talked to Paswan and he has denied his involvement in the incident. I am planning to approach superintendent of police Garima Malik,” she added.

Paswan said, “Somebody has tried to implicate me. Why should I say anything about Madhubala and accuse her of demanding money from old age pension scheme from the poll aspirants? I have never said that she demanded Rs 5 lakh as commission in matters related to purchase of dustbins.”

He added: “I do not think that I need to clarify my stand. I have not written any such leaflet. Somebody has scripted the plot and there should be a probe.”

Madhubala, on her part, said: “I know Paswan personally and he cannot do such things. Somebody has not only implicated him but has also tried to tarnish my image ahead of the election. But the voters are aware of my behaviour and working style. It’s up to them to judge whether I am corrupt or not. However, I will try to find out the truth behind the leaflet episode.”

Along with the rest of the state, elections to 48 wards in the Darbhanga Municipal Corporation are scheduled on May 17, and 245 candidates are in the fray.