Prashant Kishor Challenges Election Commission Over Dual Voter Registration in Bihar and West Bengal

New Delhi:

The Election Commission has requested an explanation from poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor regarding the duplication of his name in voter lists of both Bihar and West Bengal, following a news report on the matter. In response, Kishor has challenged the Commission, questioning why his name wasn't removed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise if duplication existed, and dared them to arrest him if he was at fault.

"If my name appears in two voter lists, the Election Commission should explain why my name wasn't deleted when SIR was effected in Bihar. My name is in Karakat since 2019. I went to Bengal for two years in between, so I was a voter there. Why is the Election Commission sending a notice? If it's my fault, arrest me," Kishor stated.

According to the Commission, citing The Indian Express report, Kishor's name appears in the electoral roll of Ward No. 621, within the Maniktala Assembly Constituency under North Kolkata Parliamentary Constituency, West Bengal, as well as in Bihar's Karakat Assembly Constituency.

The Commission's letter noted: "As per Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, no person shall be registered in the electoral rolls of more than one constituency. Violation of this provision attracts penal action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which provides for imprisonment or fine, or both. Please present your explanation within three days."

Kishor's Bengal address appears to be a remnant from his time as campaign advisor to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee before the 2021 assembly election. The Indian Express reported his address was listed as 121 Kalighat Road, which houses the Trinamool Congress office in Kolkata's Bhabanipur, Banerjee's assembly constituency.

The Election Commission has cited voter list name duplication as one reason for conducting the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Opposition parties have alleged that the SIR exercise is a strategy to disenfranchise voters. The Congress party claims it's a scheme by the BJP and the Election Commission designed to secure a large mandate for the NDA, and will selectively target poor voters who typically support opposition parties.

Both the BJP and the Election Commission have dismissed these allegations.

Prashant Kishor has also criticized the SIR exercise and the BJP, stating: "SIR was done in Bihar. What difference did it make? Was anyone's name struck off? A few people did face difficulties. BJP can try all it wants, but they might want to delete someone's name, scare someone and bother someone. But if people turn against you, do any SIR or FIR, there will be nobody to save you..." He made these comments while speaking to media the day after the poll body announced the nationwide implementation of the revision exercise.