Tejashwi Yadav’s Response to Election Commission’s Notice

In the ongoing controversy surrounding Bihar’s electoral rolls, Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in Bihar, has announced his intention to respond to the Election Commission’s notice regarding the allegation of holding two Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs). This comes after the Election Commission raised concerns about the discrepancies in his voter ID information.

Tejashwi had previously claimed that his name was missing from the electoral rolls, which prompted the Election Commission to launch an investigation. However, when he was asked about the issue of possessing two EPICs, the EC asked Yadav to clarify the matter and submit the original voter IDs related to the disputed EPIC numbers.

In a press statement, Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticized the Election Commission’s actions, accusing it of intentionally omitting voter names and inflating the voter lists in certain areas. He alleged that this process disproportionately affected the marginalized sections of society, particularly migrant workers and rural voters, who may not have easy access to the necessary documentation to verify their identity.

Yadav and his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have pledged to compile evidence to support their claims. He has vowed to bring the matter before both the Election Commission and the judiciary to ensure that these alleged irregularities are addressed. He also emphasized that the RJD will continue to stand against what they see as unfair practices in the electoral process.

The issue has further fueled the ongoing political debate in the state, particularly regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Opposition parties, including the INDIA alliance, have raised serious concerns that the SIR is being used as a tool to undermine the credibility of the voter lists, leading to potential disenfranchisement ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

Tejashwi’s response is likely to intensify the scrutiny of the ongoing voter roll revision process in Bihar, as political parties prepare for the upcoming electoral battle.