Tejashwi Claims ECI Canceled EPIC Without Notice; Alleges Voter Irregularities

August 13, 2025

Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said the Election Commission of India canceled one of his Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers without notifying him. He told reporters in Patna that the EC “did it without my knowledge” and that it is up to the Commission to explain the matter. The issue surfaced on August 2 when Tejashwi showed at a press conference that his EPIC number was not listed on the EC’s website and mobile app.

Patna’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) then issued two notices asking him to surrender one of the EPIC numbers. Tejashwi responded to the notice on August 8.

Tejashwi reiterated accusations of widespread irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list and criticized the Election Commission and Bihar’s chief electoral officials for not addressing his concerns or holding press conferences, suggesting that top BJP leaders are influencing media interactions. He claimed the BJP has historically used agencies like the ED and CBI, and now purportedly the EC, to influence votes.

He cited examples such as Muzaffarpur Mayor Nirmala Devi appearing on two separate voter lists within the same constituency with two different EPIC cards and mismatched ages, and alleged that Devi’s two brothers-in-law also have duplicate registrations. Tejashwi also noted that after the RJD highlighted two EPIC numbers linked to Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, the EC issued a notice to him.