Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav could become the target of a stepped-up crackdown by the Election Commission of India (ECI), which claims he has a “clearly fraudulent” Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) and demands its surrender by August 16, 2025. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Patna (Sadar), who is also the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for the Digha Assembly constituency, issued a strongly-worded letter on Friday warning that it is illegal to use and forge official documents. As the state prepares for the 2025 Assembly elections, the BJP has seized the chance to accuse Yadav of electoral fraud, sparking a political firestorm in Bihar.
The dispute started on August 2 when Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar Assembly’s Leader of Opposition, claimed in a dramatic press conference in Patna that his name was absent from the draft electoral roll that was made public following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Yadav claimed there was a plot to deny voters, especially those from marginalised communities, the right to vote before the election by displaying an EPIC number (RAB2916120) on the ECI’s mobile app, which produced a “no records found” result. He questioned the transparency of the SIR exercise, which resulted in the removal of 65 lakh voters from Bihar’s rolls, telling reporters, “If my name can be removed, imagine what’s happening to the poor and migrant workers.”
With EPIC number RAB0456228 — the same number he used in his 2020 election affidavit — the ECI quickly refuted Yadav’s allegations, stating that his name was still listed in the draft electoral roll at serial number 416, polling station 204 (Library Building of Bihar Animal Science University). Even after reviewing documents that were more than ten years old, the commission’s investigation indicated that the EPIC number Yadav mentioned (RAB2916120) was “non-existent” in its database. As a result, the ERO sent out a notice on August 3 and a reminder on August 8 requesting the original voter ID for review. “It appears the aforementioned EPIC card is fraudulent,” read the most recent letter, which was sent out on Friday and escalated the situation. Creating and using a fake government document is illegal. Once more, you are asked to turn in your allegedly fraudulent EPIC card by August 16 at 5 p.m.
In an attempt to capitalise, the BJP charged Yadav with possessing two voter IDs, which it considers a “severe electoral offence.” Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, national spokesperson Sambit Patra asked, “What are RJD workers doing if a leader like Tejashwi Yadav has two voter IDs? Do they fear the SIR because of this? By sharing screenshots of the draft roll, Patna’s District Magistrate Dr Thiyagarajan SM further refuted Yadav’s claims by confirming that Tejashwi and his father, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, were listed among the voters. If Yadav doesn’t provide an explanation for the purportedly phoney ID, the BJP has threatened to file a formal complaint against him.
Yadav has retaliated, accusing the ECI of being unreliable in issuing two EPIC numbers. “Only the Patna Registration Department has sent me a notice, not the Election Commission,” he told ANI on Thursday. “I’ll respond appropriately.” According to the RJD leader, his party is gathering proof of extensive irregularities in the SIR process, such as the removal of 20,000 to 30,000 names per constituency, and intends to present it in court. After JMM leader Shibu Soren passed away, he postponed the RJD’s “Vote Adhikar Yatra” and stated, “We’ve demanded booth-wise data because many names have been deliberately excluded.”
The SIR, which aims to eliminate duplicate, deceased, and ineligible voters, has become a flashpoint in Bihar, exacerbating the already tense political environment. While the NDA defends the process as necessary for maintaining electoral integrity, the opposition, led by the RJD and Congress, claims it disproportionately targets their voter base, which includes Muslims, Dalits, and backward classes. To restore incorrectly deleted names, the ECI has insisted that no political party submitted claims or objections within the first 24 hours following the release of the draft roll on August 1. Voters are being urged to submit Form 6 by September 1.
Everyone is watching to see what Tejashwi Yadav does next as the deadline approaches. Will he follow the ECI’s instructions, or will the RJD intensify its opposition to the poll body? As the Bihar elections draw near, this crucial battle could change the political landscape of the state, harming the RJD’s campaign and casting doubt on the fairness of the voting process.