Patna: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice to Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, seeking an explanation within three days after it was found that his name appears in the voter lists of two different states — Bihar and West Bengal — in violation of electoral norms.
The action follows a report published by The Indian Express on October 28, which revealed that Kishor, who has founded the Jan Suraaj party in Bihar ahead of the state assembly elections, also holds a voter ID card issued in West Bengal.
According to the report, Kishor’s name is registered in the electoral rolls of the Kargahar Assembly constituency in Bihar’s Rohtas district, listed at Serial No. 621 under Polling Station No. 367 (Madhya Vidyalaya, Konar, North Division). His voter ID number is IUI3123718.
Simultaneously, his name also appears in the electoral list of a constituency in West Bengal, raising questions of dual registration — a violation under Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which states that no person shall be registered in more than one constituency.
The Election Commission, in its notice, has asked Kishor to clarify how his name came to be included in two voter lists and to respond within three days. Officials have warned that such a violation may lead to imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both, as per the provisions of election law.
While the ECI has not made Kishor’s response public yet, sources indicate that the Commission is likely to cross-verify his registration records with both Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer and West Bengal’s Election Department before taking further action.
Kishor, once a political strategist credited with crafting major election campaigns for parties across the country, has since turned to grassroots politics through his Jan Suraaj party, which is contesting the ensuing Bihar elections.
Political observers say the notice could carry both legal and reputational implications for Kishor, who has positioned Jan Suraaj as a reformist and transparent political alternative in Bihar.
The Election Commission is expected to review his reply before deciding whether to initiate further investigation or legal proceedings in the matter.
