The Block Development Officer of Kahalgaon, Sudama Mahto, was divested of all election-related jobs on Tuesday, the eve of polling in the constituency for allegedly distributing red cards to nearly 15,000 people below poverty line to favour a candidate.

Red cards enable the rural poor to get subsidised supplies of wheat and rice.

Bhagalpur District Magistrate-cum-district Election Office Vipin Kumar told PTI that Mahto had been relieved of all poll-related work after the charge levelled against him was prima facie found to be true.

Kumar said he had also recommended suspension of Mahto.

The BDO was allleged to have distributed red cards to nearly 15,000 people in Ekchari-Bholsar panchayat allegedly to favour Bihar Congress President and party candidate from Kahalgaon, Sadanand Singh.

The Election Commission's special adviser K J Rao, who visited Bhagalpur on Monday to review poll arrangements, has ordered a thorough probe into the matter.

The EC special advisor was shown the red cards, which neither carried photographs of the beneficiaries nor the date of issue.

Janata Dal (United) candidate from Kahalgaon Ajay Mandal had alleged that the BDO, in collusion with the chief of the panchayat, had distributed the cards on the poll eve to favour a candidate.

While Mandal did not name Sadanand Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party's Kahalgoan sub-division president Ranbir Singh alleged the card was distributed with the sole objective to help Sadanand Singh in the elections.