Voter list exclusions claimed by Tejashwi Yadav; Election Commission of India, Patna District Magistrate deny accusations
News Article: Tejashwi Yadav's Voter List Controversy in Bihar
In a recent twist in the lead-up to the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, has alleged that his name is missing from the voter list for the Digha Assembly Constituency. Yadav made this claim during a press conference, displaying an Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number but claiming an online search showed "no matching record found."
However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has refuted Yadav's claim, stating that his name is indeed included in the draft Special Intensive Revision (SIR) for Digha. The confusion appears to have arisen due to multiple EPIC numbers associated with Yadav, which may have contributed to the initial difficulty in locating the correct record online.
According to Patna District Magistrate Dr. Thiyagarajan SM, Yadav's name is still listed at the same booth where he previously voted. Dr. Thiyagarajan SM's statements, however, do not confirm or deny the accuracy of Yadav's claim about his EPIC number being different from the one in ECI records.
In response to the allegations, the ECI has assured that all political parties would receive detailed information regarding any voter deletions as per standard procedures. The draft electoral rolls for Bihar were published in preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections, and the ECI completed its month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) before releasing them.
Dr. Thiyagarajan SM has requested all voters in Patna district to have patience and check their names in the draft electoral rolls either by their name or EPIC number. He has also clarified that the EPIC number provided by Yadav in his affidavit during the 2020 election is the same as the one being referenced.
The allegation of Yadav's missing name was based on an online search mismatch or confusion over multiple EPIC numbers. The ECI has verified Yadav's name is on the voter list at serial number 416, disproving his claim of being excluded.
Despite the controversy, the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar are being prepared, with the release of the draft electoral rolls by the ECI. Dr. Thiyagarajan SM has assured voters in Patna district that they can see their names in the draft electoral rolls.
[1] Times of India [2] NDTV [3] The Hindu [4] The Indian Express
- War-and-conflicts within political parties in India escalated as Tejashwi Yadav's voter list controversy unfolded in Bihar, raising questions about the accuracy of voter records.
- Amid general news about the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar, politics took a turn when Tejashwi Yadav's name missing from the voter list became a point of contention, sparking debates about the reliability of the electoral rolls.
