‘Two Voter IDs for Every BJP Person’: Tejashwi Yadav’s Fresh Attack on EC, Alleges Widespread Poll Fraud in Bihar

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday escalated his attack on the Election Commission, accusing the poll body of actively colluding with the BJP to manipulate voter lists in poll-bound Bihar by issuing dual EPIC (Elector’s Photo Identity Card) numbers to its leaders and workers. Doubling down on his “vote chori” (vote theft) allegations, Yadav presented new claims of irregularities, alleging a systematic effort to rig the electoral rolls ahead of the crucial assembly elections.

At a press conference in Patna, Yadav moved beyond his earlier allegations against Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha, claiming the problem was widespread. “Today I want to tell you that EC is helping the BJP, and cutting the votes of the Opposition. The people of BJP are being given not one, but two EPIC numbers for themselves, in one vidhan sabha only,” he stated.

He named Muzaffarpur’s BJP mayor, Nirmala Devi, and her two brothers-in-law as examples, alleging they all possessed dual voter IDs within the same constituency. Yadav also claimed that names were being improperly added from other states, citing BJP leader Bhikhubhai Dalsaniya, a Gujarat voter, who he said has now been registered as a voter in Patna.

The RJD leader framed these allegations as part of a larger strategy by the BJP to win elections unfairly. He claimed that after using central agencies like the CBI and ED against opponents became less effective, the Election Commission was “brought forward” to manipulate results.

He pointed to the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, where he alleged “vote dacoity” cost the opposition alliance over 10 seats due to a slim overall vote margin of just 12,000. Questioning the poll body’s neutrality, he referenced the controversial Chandigarh mayoral election, suggesting the EC removed CCTVs to avoid being caught in the act.

The allegations have intensified the political heat in Bihar, which is already simmering over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Meanwhile, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, who faces allegations of holding two voter IDs, has confirmed receipt of a notice from the Election Commission and stated he will respond by the August 14 deadline.

Sinha has maintained his innocence, explaining that he had applied to transfer his vote from Bankipur to Lakhisarai and that a form to delete his name from the Bankipur list was rejected, leading to the duplication.