SIR row: Tejashwi Yadav claims Bihar deputy CM has two EPIC numbers; asks if EC will send separate notices | India News
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’ showdownThe 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.
