‘Tejashwi Yadav Has 2 Voter ID Cards’ Election Commission Issued Notice To RJD leader
A major political controversy has erupted in Bihar after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed his name was deleted from the state’s electoral roll, prompting a sharp rebuttal from the Election Commission (EC) and allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that he holds two separate voter ID cards. The EC has since issued a notice to the former Deputy Chief Minister, asking him to produce the voter ID he cited, which the poll body says was never officially issued.
The issue began on Saturday when Yadav, at a press conference, alleged his name was missing from the new draft voter list prepared after the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. To prove his point, he displayed an Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) with the number RAB2916120 and showed that entering it into the EC’s mobile app resulted in a “no records found” error. “My name is also not on the voter list. How will I contest the elections?” the RJD leader asked.
The Election Commission immediately refuted his claim, clarifying that Yadav’s name is indeed present in the draft electoral roll. The poll body stated his name is listed at serial number 416 of polling station 204 in Patna, under the EPIC number RAB0456228, the same number he used in his 2020 election affidavit. Following this clarification, the EC issued a formal notice to Yadav, stating that their preliminary investigation suggests the EPIC number he displayed (RAB2916120) “does not appear to be officially issued.” The notice requests him to provide the original copy of this card for a thorough investigation.
The discrepancy between the two EPIC numbers led to a swift and strong reaction from the BJP. The ruling party accused Yadav of committing a “criminal offence” by possessing two voter IDs. “The Congress and RJD have been thoroughly exposed. Did you (Yadav) lie under oath? Did you present wrong facts to the Election Commission,” BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra questioned at a press conference. BJP’s IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, demanded that a case be registered against the RJD leader.
This entire episode unfolds against the backdrop of a heated political battle over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. The opposition has vehemently opposed the exercise, labeling it a “conspiracy” to disenfranchise communities that form their core support base. The revision led to the elimination of 65 lakh names from the draft rolls, which the EC identified as illegal or duplicate voters. Yadav’s initial claim was part of the opposition’s protest against this process, but the subsequent revelations have put him and his party on the defensive.
