Latest news with #ElectorsPhotoIdentityCard
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Tejashwi Yadav Says Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Has 2 Voter IDs. He Replies
Patna: Adding a twist to the row over Bihar's voter list revision, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has claimed that Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha holds two EPIC cards. The Election Commission issues every eligible voter an EPIC -- Electors Photo Identity Card -- and a voter must have only one EPIC number. Mr Sinha has hit back, saying that he has already requested the removal of his name from one constituency and accusing Mr Yadav of levelling false allegations. In a press meet this morning, Mr Yadav claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Sinha has two EPIC numbers. "These numbers are in two separate Assembly segments, and his age is also different in these cards. One EPIC number is in the Bankipur segment and his age is 60. Another EPIC number is in Lakhisarai and his age is 57 in this one. So, either he has signed documents for the issue of both these EPIC numbers or the whole Special Intensive Revision process is a fraud," Mr Yadav said. है मोदी जी के खासमखास बिहार के उपमुख्यमंत्री श्री विजय सिन्हा 👉 ये दो अलग-अलग जिलों की दो अलग-अलग विधानसभा क्षेत्रों के दो अलग-अलग जगह के मतदाता हैं। लखीसराय जिले के लखीसराय विधानसभा क्षेत्र से और पटना जिले की बांकीपुर, विधानसभा निर्वाचन क्षेत्र से। 👉 इनके पास दो दो अलग-अलग… — Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) August 10, 2025 The Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Bihar months ahead of the Assembly polls has sparked a massive row, with the Opposition RJD and Congress alleging that the exercise will lead to mass deletion of voters. The poll body has trashed these allegations. Amid this row, the Election Commission sought an explanation from Mr Yadav, alleging that he holds a "fake" EPIC card. "The public should know who is doing fraud. Lakhisarai Assembly EPIC No is IAF3939337 while Bankipur Assembly EPIC No is AFS0853341," Mr Yadav said, targeting the Deputy Chief Minister. "In January's list, Bankipur was mentioned in his affidavit. When the BLO went to Lakhisarai, he would have signed, and when the BLO went to Bankipur, he would have signed there too. That is why his name has appeared in separate voter lists from both places." "Either Election Commission's SIR exercise in Bihar is a fraud, or the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha is committing a fraud... An FIR should be filed against him," the RJD leader said. In a press meet shortly after Mr Yadav made the allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Sinha said his family previously lived in the Bankipur Assembly area. "I filled up a form for the deletion of my name from the voter list. I got my name added to the Lakshisarai voter list." He said he filled up a form for deletion of his name from Bankipur list after he found his name featured in both lists. #WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's allegations against him, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha says, "Earlier, my entire family's name was listed in Patna. In April 2024, I applied to add my name to the Lakhisarai Assembly. I also filled out a form… — ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2025 Targeting Mr Yadav with the "jungle raj" barb used by the BJP to target RJD, Mr Sinha said, "Jungle raj's prince commits fraud. We don't commit such actions. Unfortunately, someone in a constitutional post is maligning politics without proper knowledge." Earlier, Mr Yadav alleged a media trial against him and questioned if the poll body would take action against Mr Sinha. "If an attempt is made to take action against us, will action be taken against the Deputy Chief Minister as well?" he asked. "The BJP is finishing off democracy and the Constitution. Where the BJP cannot do this, the Election Commission is being used for this task. Are the voters added between 2003 and 2025 fake? If they are fake, then the government elected by them is fake too," he said. Mr Yadav had earlier alleged that his name was not on the new draft voter list released on August 1. He later said his EPIC number had been changed. The Patna Electoral Registration Officer has asked him to share details of the EPIC card he mentioned for a probe. "The details of the EPIC card mentioned by you in the press conference on 02.08.2025 were requested for thorough investigation, but till now, the desired documents and a copy of the EPIC card have not been provided from your level. Therefore, it is requested again that details should be made available to the undersigned by the afternoon of 08.08.2025 so that it can be thoroughly investigated," the letter to Mr Yadav said.
News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Tejashwi Yadav Says Vijay Sinha Holds Two Voter IDs, Deputy CM Hits Back As SIR Row Snowballs
Last Updated: Tejashwi claimed Vijay Sinha's name appears in both the Lakhisarai Assembly constituency and the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Patna district. Amid the ongoing political firestorm over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday accused Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha of holding two voter cards. Tejashwi claimed the BJP leader's name appears in both the Lakhisarai Assembly constituency and the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Patna district. He posted details of the alleged entries on X, including two different Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers — IAF3939337 for Lakhisarai and AFS0853341 for Bankipur. 'In the Lakhisarai voter list, his name appears in Section No. 1, Serial No. 274. In the Bankipur list, it is in Section No. 4, Serial No. 757. In the January Bankipur list, it was recorded at Serial No. 815," Tejashwi alleged. 'Even in his election affidavit, he mentioned only the Bankipur entry. This means he is in a position to vote twice — in two different phases of polling, in two different constituencies." The former deputy CM also pointed to discrepancies in the age recorded in the two voter IDs. 'His age is also different in both places — 57 years in one, 60 years in the other. Is this not outright fraud and an age-related falsification? He has submitted two separate enumeration forms in the two different constituencies. Both forms bear his signatures, indicating that he knowingly got himself registered in two separate places," he said. Tejashwi further targeted the Election Commission, questioning whether the poll body had 'created forged signatures" if Vijay Sinha had not signed the forms himself. 'Will he now receive two separate notices — or are the rules meant only for the opposition?" he asked, referring to a notice served to him over alleged dual EPIC numbers. Vijay Sinha Hits Back Vijay Sinha rejected RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's allegation that he holds two voter IDs in different constituencies, calling it a deliberate attempt to mislead people. Sinha said his family earlier had voter IDs from Bankipur, where they used to live, but in April 2024, he applied to have his name added to the Lakhisarai constituency and removed from the Bankipur list. 'It did not happen. Then I called the BLO, filled the form, took receipt," he said, adding that despite the clerical lapse, he only casts his vote from Lakhisarai. Taking a swipe at the RJD leader, Sinha said, 'Now the prince of 'jungle raj', the way they confuse people, I want to say to him that I have all the documents. I only vote from one place. Last time as well, I voted in Lakhisarai. We don't play these games." view comments Location : Bihar, India, India First Published: August 10, 2025, 13:29 IST News india Tejashwi Yadav Says Vijay Sinha Holds Two Voter IDs, Deputy CM Hits Back As SIR Row Snowballs Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SIR row: Tejashwi Yadav claims Bihar deputy CM has two EPIC numbers; asks if EC will send separate notices
Vijay Kumar Sinha and Tejashwi Yadav NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday claimed Bihar deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha is registered as a voter in two different assembly constituencies, escalating the political slugfest over the alleged loose ends in the electoral rolls. Tejashwi said the BJP leader has his name registered in two different districts: 1.) Lakhisarai Assembly in Lakhisarai district, and 2.) Bankipur Assembly in Patna district. He also shared the two separate EPIC numbers: IAF3939337 for Lakhisarai, and AFS0853341 for Bankipur. An EPIC number is the unique identification number printed on an Indian voter's Electors Photo Identity Card. "In the Lakhisarai assembly constituency voter list, his name appears in Section No. 1, Serial No. 274 . In the Bankipur assembly constituency list, it appears in Section No. 4, Serial No. 757 . In the older Bankipur voter list published in January, his name was recorded in Section No. 4, Serial No. 815 . Even in his election affidavit, he has mentioned only the Bankipur constituency entry. This means he is in a position to vote twice -- in two different phases of polling, in two different constituencies," Tejashwi claimed on X. Pointing out the discrepancies in the age mentioned in both cards, the former Bihar deputy CM asked: "Is this not outright fraud and an age-related falsification?" "His age is also different in both places -- 57 years in one, 60 years in the other. Is this not outright fraud and an age-related falsification? He has submitted two separate enumeration forms in the two different constituencies. Both forms bear his signatures, indicating that he knowingly got himself registered in two separate places," he said. The RJD leader also targeted the Election Commission, asking if Vijay Sinha had not signed the form, did the poll body "create forged signatures?" "If he didn't personally sign both forms, then did the Election Commission itself create forged signatures to register him in two constituencies? His name has also appeared in the draft rolls for both assembly constituencies. Has the Election Commission deliberately facilitated such duplicate registrations for BJP supporters? How did it include his name in the draft lists for two different constituencies?" Lalu's son asked. "Will he now receive two separate notices -- or are the rules meant only for the opposition?" the RJD leader asked ECI, who has sent notice to him over dual EPIC numbers. Tejashwi & ECI's 'EPIC' showdown The Election Commission on Friday claimed that the EPIC showed by Tejashwi Yadav to the media during press conference was "fake". The poll body has asked him to submit it to the office by August 16. "It seems that the EPIC displayed by you during a press conference is fake. Making and using false government documents is a legal offence. You are requested to submit the seemingly false EPIC at our office by 5pm on 16th August," Patna election officer said in a letter to Yadav. Earlier, Yadav had demanded accountability from ECI over two EPIC numbers being issued to him. "If two EPIC numbers were issues, who is at fault? And they ask explanation from me," he had said. Tejashwi's remark was in response to a Patna electoral registration officer (ERO) asking Yadav to furnish details of the EPIC card he referred to during his August 2 press conference, setting an August 8 afternoon deadline for the information to aid further investigation. "The details of the EPIC card mentioned by you in the press conference on 02.08.2025 were requested for thorough investigation, but till now, the desired documents and a copy of the EPIC card have not been provided from your level. Therefore, it is requested again that details should be made available to the undersigned by the afternoon of 08.08.2025 so that it can be thoroughly investigated," the letter said. The showdown between ECI and Tejashwi Yadav began when he first alleged that his name was absent from the new draft voter list issued on August 1, and later claimed his EPIC number had been altered. The Election Commission, however, rejected these assertions, saying a detailed verification showed his name listed at serial number 416 of polling station 204 in the Library Building of Bihar Animal Science University.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Voted ID Tejashwi flashed at press conference fake, says poll body, gives him deadline to surrender it
The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for Digha Assembly constituency has issued a fresh notice to Bihar Leader of Opposition and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, asking him to surrender an allegedly fake Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) that he displayed during a press conference held on August 2. The deadline for submission has been set for 5 pm on August 16. The official communication, dated August 8, comes in continuation of earlier correspondence dated August 3 and August 6, following Yadav's claim that his name had been 'deleted' from the electoral rolls and that his voter ID card was no longer valid. During the press conference, Yadav presented an EPIC card bearing the number RAB2916120, which he said had failed to yield any search results on the Election Commission of India's (ECI) official portal. However, upon verification, the ERO stated that the EPIC number in question was never issued by the Election Commission. 'Matching the card with the electoral database of several years revealed that the EPIC card number RAB2916120 is not found in the records of the Election Commission,' the letter said. The ERO further pointed out that Yadav's valid entry in the voter list appears under 'EPIC number RAB0456228', and his name is listed at serial number 416 in Polling Station No. 204, Bihar Animal Sciences University Library Building, a change from its previous position in the same premises at Polling Station No. 171, serial number 481. An ECI source had previously said that EPIC number RAB0456228 has been consistently associated with Tejashwi Yadav since 2015, including in the affidavit he submitted during nominations in the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections. During the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the same number was provided by Yadav through the Booth Level Officer (BLO) in the submitted enumeration form, the official had said. In its latest letter, the ERO wrote, 'It appears that the EPIC card number RAB2916120 displayed during the August 2 press conference is fake. Creating and using forged government documents is a legal offence.' The notice concludes with a renewed request to Yadav: 'You are once again requested to deposit your apparently fake EPIC card at the Office of the Electoral Registration Officer by 5:00 PM on August 16, 2025.' This development follows a previous letter issued by the ERO to Yadav, seeking clarification on the EPIC number he quoted during the August 2 media interaction. District officials had clarified earlier that Yadav's name had not been deleted from the rolls but was listed under a different polling station number. Election Commission sources said that the EPIC number linked with Yadav in the electoral rolls had remained consistent for over a decade, and an extensive review of past electoral rolls and databases found no record of the number RAB2916120.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fix the flaws: On Rahul Gandhi's ‘stolen elections' allegation and the Election Commission of India
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has levelled serious allegations of 'criminal fraud' against the Election Commission of India (ECI), by claiming that over one lakh fake votes were created in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment of the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency in order to ensure a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 general election. His detailed presentation outlining five categories of alleged electoral malpractices demands careful examination, not wholesale dismissal. The Congress leader's documentation reveals troubling patterns: voters registered multiple times within the same constituency, identical Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers across different States, and improbably large numbers of voters listed at single addresses. While identical EPIC numbers across different States are not a significant issue — the ECI addressed these anomalies earlier this year — his claim that party workers found booth slips showing multiple votes by the 'same person' in a single booth represents a serious violation of the 'one person, one vote' principle, if verified. Mr Gandhi claimed that these discrepancies were not limited to Mahadevapura but were part of a calculated modus operandi to help the BJP in marginal constituencies across the country. The Congress party had made similar allegations about massive increases in electoral registrations prior to the Maharashtra Assembly election, claiming that these had contributed to the unexpected victory of the BJP and its allies, though without elaborate proof of erroneous registrations as seen in Mahadevapura. Mr. Gandhi's analysis stops short of proving that these discrepancies directly enabled the BJP's victory. The BJP won the Mahadevapura Assembly seat in 2023 with a margin of approximately 44,500 votes. The increased margin, to over 1,14,000 votes, in 2024 happened even though the total accretions in the electoral roll were around 52,600 electors and the actual voter count increased only by around 20,000. Establishing a causal link between electoral roll errors and poll outcomes requires more than circumstantial correlation. The leap from documenting registration flaws to alleging deliberate fraud orchestrated by the ECI in collusion with the BJP remains unsubstantiated. The ECI has adopted an unnecessarily defensive stance by demanding that evidence be submitted 'under oath' — a requirement that legal experts suggest may not apply in this situation — and attributing electoral discrepancies to the failure by political parties to raise concerns during registration. More problematic is the ECI's practice of releasing voter information in bulky image PDFs rather than structured, searchable text formats, which hinders verification efforts by political parties and civil society organisations. The ECI's approach to voter registration relies heavily on self-declarations and lacks robust verification mechanisms. The Mahadevapura controversy highlights the urgent need for comprehensive electoral roll reform through door-to-door verification, the most reliable method. The ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar appears to respond to critics about electoral roll problems. In theory, this should help maintain more accurate rolls. However, rushed implementation and problematic identity verification requirements risk creating new issues related to legitimate voter deletion. Data already show higher deletions among women electors than men in Bihar. Considering that most out-migrants are males, the higher deletion of women electors could indicate that marginalised electors — particularly those who are illiterate (literacy rate of women aged 15-49 years in Bihar was 55% in 2019-21, according to the National Family Health Survey) — have been erroneously excluded in the enumeration process for the draft SIR roll. The broader challenge extends to multiple aspects of electoral administration: lax implementation of campaign finance regulations and the Model Code of Conduct, tallying VVPATs from only small samples rather than statistically significant proportions, inadequate technical safeguards for symbol loading in VVPATs, and the unwillingness to submit the EVM's technical safeguards to independent expert verification. The ECI's resistance to retaining CCTV footage from polling booths, delays in publishing final turnout figures, and evolution into an institution viewing criticism as an attack represent a troubling departure from democratic norms. The fundamental issue underlying current electoral controversies is the erosion of institutional trust. The ECI's credibility depends not merely on technical soundness but also on public confidence in its impartiality and transparency. The process of appointing Election Commissioners needs to follow the Supreme Court's recommendation to include the Chief Justice of India in the selection panel, currently side-stepped by the government. Mr. Gandhi's allegations fall short of establishing deliberate fraud. But his party's findings perform a valuable democratic function by highlighting systemic flaws. The appropriate response requires comprehensive voter roll auditing, enhanced transparency in data sharing, improved technical safeguards including comprehensive audit trails of EVM commands and security protocols for symbol loading, stronger enforcement of electoral regulations, and consultations with political parties. The ECI must embrace the principle that democratic institutions grow stronger through scrutiny. The alternative — continued erosion of confidence in electoral processes — poses far greater risks to democratic governance than any specific allegation of malpractice.
