The ongoing dispute surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Delhi has intensified. Following claims by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav that his name was absent from the draft voter list, a claim refuted by the Election Commission, the BJP has entered the fray. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused Yadav of attempting to spread misinformation during a press conference, specifically questioning how Yadav could possess two EPIC numbers.
Patra, speaking at a press conference, alleged that the opposition was attempting to undermine constitutional institutions. He stated that Yadav’s claims were misleading and questioned why Yadav’s name was not appearing despite entering his EPIC number on the Election Commission website. He then raised the alarming question of whether Yadav possessed multiple voter ID cards. “Is this not a blatant disregard for democratic principles?” Patra inquired.
Patra further highlighted that the district magistrate of Patna had clarified the situation, revealing that Yadav’s name was not removed, but the EPIC number in question was the same one used in the previous election. He then posed the question, “How can one have two EPIC numbers? Is it not a gross offense against the nation’s democratic process?” Furthermore, Patra speculated that the opposition’s opposition to the SIR could be related to the issue of multiple voter IDs.
Patra also alleged that if leaders behaved in this manner, it would be easy to guess how many voter ID cards their supporters may have. He then said he had brought documents related to his previous two elections. He accused the RJD and Congress-led coalition of valuing family over democracy. In response to Yadav’s claims, election commission sources said that Yadav used EPIC number RAB 0456228 in the 2020 election. The same number was used to register him in 2015, and that number is also in the current draft.