Patna: Bihar’s Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, has formally submitted a written response to the Election Commission regarding the controversy over two voter identification cards bearing different EPIC (Electoral Photo Identity Card) numbers. This development follows a notice issued to Yadav on August 8, which required him to submit a valid voter ID by August 16.
RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha highlighted the issue, questioning how two EPIC cards could have been issued to the same individual. He emphasized the growing instances of such irregularities and called on the Election Commission to scrutinize how dual EPICs came into circulation. Manoj also criticized the Election Commission for what he described as arrogance and ignorance, warning that such attitudes could deteriorate the commission’s credibility, drawing a parallel with the situation faced by the Bangladesh Election Commission.
The background to the case involves Tejashwi’s press conference on August 2, where he displayed a voter ID card with an EPIC number later declared fake by the Election Commission. The commission clarified that no voter ID with the shown EPIC number (RAB-2916120) was issued officially to him. Instead, his valid EPIC number was identified as RAB-0456228, consistent with records from the 2015 and 2020 Bihar assembly elections and the 2025 special revision data. The Election Commission has rejected Tejashwi’s claim of absence from the electoral rolls on its official website after the 2025 revision and has issued him three notices so far.
The Election Commission has directed Tejashwi to submit the correct voter ID by 5 pm on August 16 at its office. The submission of the written response is a key part of the ongoing inquiry into the voter ID irregularity issue involving an important political figure in Bihar as the state gears up for elections. The commission’s final decision is awaited.
