Tejashwi Yadav Faces EC Notice Over Dual Voter ID

NEW DELHI:

Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has received a reminder notice from the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding his purported possession of two Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) registered in separate constituencies. Regarding the duplicate voter registration, which is deemed a violation under the Representation of the People Act of 1950, the notice, dated August 5, requests a response from the senior leader.

Tejashwi Yadav is registered to vote in two different constituencies, one in Bihar and one in Delhi, according to the Election Commission. Earlier this year, the commission sent a notice to the RJD leader after first identifying the issue during routine verification. However, the Commission has now sent a follow-up reminder asking him to clarify his position after no satisfactory response was received within the allotted time frame.

Officials from the ECI stated that the reminder has been issued in accordance with Section 17 and Section 18 of the Representation of the People Act. Section 17 prohibits a person from being registered in more than one constituency, while Section 18 empowers the electoral registration officer to remove or correct entries found to be duplicated or inaccurate.

“The reminder has been sent to seek an explanation on the matter of dual enrolment. The Commission follows due process before initiating any corrective action,” said a senior Election Commission official.

Tejashwi Yadav, who currently serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, has not issued any public statement in response to the latest reminder. Sources close to the leader, however, indicated that the duplication may have occurred due to a change in residence and that appropriate clarification would be submitted soon.

This development has sparked political reactions in Bihar, with several parties demanding a fair inquiry. Some have raised concerns about the implications of such duplications in light of upcoming elections, while others have urged restraint until the legal process is completed.

According to the Election Commission, the issue is being handled solely as a procedural one and is not political in nature. "Duplicate registration cases are handled in accordance with the law, regardless of the individual involved. The official went on to say, "The Commission guarantees equality and fairness in the electoral roll maintenance process." Tejashwi Yadav may be subject to legal repercussions, such as the cancellation of one of the entries and potential action under election laws, if the accusations are found to be accurate and no adequate explanation is provided. 

According to reports, the RJD leader has been given until the middle of August by the Commission to reply to the notice. His explanation and the concerned electoral officers' verification will determine the next course of action.

The case has brought renewed attention to the integrity of electoral rolls and the importance of accurate voter registration, especially for public representatives.