Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to manipulate Bihar’s voter rolls by issuing two Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers to BJP leaders and workers within the same assembly constituency.
Addressing a press conference in Patna, Yadav cited examples, including Muzaffarpur Mayor and BJP leader Nirmala Devi, who he claimed holds two EPIC IDs, as well as her two brothers-in-law. He also alleged that voters from other states, including Gujarat, were being added to Bihar’s rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) ahead of the assembly elections.
He claimed Gujarat BJP leader Bhikhubhai Dalsaniya became a voter in Patna despite having last voted in Gujarat in 2024, questioning the legality of such transfers within a short period. Yadav further alleged that BJP previously used agencies like the CBI, ED, and Income Tax Department against the Opposition, but has now “brought forward” the ECI to influence elections.
Accusing the ECI of “vote chori” in the 2020 Bihar assembly polls, Yadav said the Opposition lost several seats by narrow margins due to alleged manipulation. He also criticised the removal of CCTV surveillance in polling, drawing a parallel to alleged irregularities in the Chandigarh mayoral elections.
The ECI has not yet held a press conference on the ongoing SIR, Yadav noted, adding that the BJP has remained silent on the allegations.
Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, also accused of holding two EPIC numbers, said he would respond to the notice issued by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) by August 14. Sinha clarified that while he had applied to transfer his voter registration from Bankipur to Lakhisarai in April 2024, the deletion from Bankipur did not occur immediately, leading to duplication. He insisted he voted only from Lakhisarai in the last election.
