Patna: A fiery controversy has erupted in Bihar’s political arena after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav claimed his name was missing from the state’s draft electoral rolls during a press conference on Saturday. The allegation, aimed at the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, has backfired, with revelations that Yadav possesses not one but two Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers, igniting a fresh political slugfest.
Yadav, addressing the media in Patna, attempted to search for his name in the voter list using his EPIC number, RAB2916120, only to display a “no records found” message on a large screen. “If my name is missing, how will I contest the elections?” he questioned, accusing the ECI of orchestrating a “conspiracy” to delete names of eligible voters, particularly from marginalised communities, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections slated for later this year. The RJD leader’s claims sent shockwaves through the state, amplifying concerns about the SIR process, which has already drawn criticism for its scale and timing.
However, the ECI swiftly countered Yadav’s allegations, clarifying that his name is indeed listed at serial number 416 in the draft electoral roll for the Digha Assembly constituency, under a different EPIC number, RAB0456228. This revelation has raised eyebrows, with the ruling Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seizing the opportunity to turn the tables on Yadav. JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar demanded an investigation, alleging that Yadav holds two voter IDs— one registered in 2014 at Kautilya Nagar and another at 10 Circular Road, Patna. “The competent authority must probe this matter. Holding two voter cards is a serious issue,” Kumar stated.
Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha launched a scathing attack, drawing parallels between Yadav and his father, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. “Like father, like son— they have mastered the art of falsehood,” Sinha remarked. “On one hand, they wave the Constitution, and on the other, they insult constitutional bodies like the Election Commission. Such liberty to attack democratic institutions is unacceptable, and action must be taken.” Sinha’s comments reflect the ruling coalition’s narrative that Yadav’s allegations are a tactic to deflect attention from his own discrepancies.
The controversy stems from the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision, a massive exercise to update Bihar’s voter list, which has seen over 65 lakh names removed due to reasons like deaths, migration, or duplicate registrations. The process, which requires voters to submit one of 11 specified documents by July 25, 2025, has been contentious, with opposition parties, including the RJD, labelling it a “backdoor NRC” aimed at disenfranchising the poor. The draft voter list, published on August 1, lists 7.24 crore voters, but the exclusion of millions has heightened tensions, with Yadav and his allies demanding booth-wise data to verify deletions.
The ECI has maintained that the SIR is a standard procedure to ensure electoral integrity, refuting claims of bias. It has urged political parties, including the RJD, to utilise their 47,506 booth-level agents to file claims and objections by September 1 to rectify any errors. However, Yadav’s accusation that the ECI has reneged on its promise to provide detailed reasons for voter deletions— such as death, migration, or duplication— has kept the issue simmering. “How will we identify the deceased or migrated in a list of 25,000–30,000 names per constituency without booth-wise details or EPIC numbers?” he posted on X, calling the process “rigged” and a threat to democracy.
As the war of words escalates, the voter ID controversy has cast a shadow over Yadav’s credibility and intensified the political rivalry between the RJD-led opposition and the BJP-JD(U) alliance. With the Bihar Assembly elections looming, this row could shape voter sentiment and influence the electoral battle. For now, all eyes are on how Yadav navigates this unexpected twist and whether the ECI’s assurances of transparency will quell the growing unrest.