The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, seeking an explanation over allegations of dual voter registration in Bihar and West Bengal.
According to the notice, Kishor’s name appears on the electoral rolls of both states, an apparent violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The notice cites a report indicating that Kishor is registered as a voter in both the Kargahar Assembly constituency in Bihar’s Rohtas district and the Bhabanipur constituency in West Bengal.
Specifically, his name is listed at 121 Kalighat Road, Kolkata—the address of the Trinamool Congress headquarters—and also in the Kargahar Assembly segment under the Sasaram parliamentary constituency in Bihar.
The Election Commission has given Kishor three days to respond to the allegations. The notice warns that, if confirmed, dual registration could attract penal consequences, including imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both, under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
In his response, Kishor asserted that his details are publicly available and questioned the effectiveness of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive. He also challenged the Commission to arrest him if any law had indeed been violated.
The controversy over Kishor’s alleged dual registration comes amid heightened scrutiny of voter rolls in Bihar, as election authorities intensify efforts to ensure transparency ahead of the upcoming polls. The ECI is currently conducting a nationwide SIR drive to update and verify electoral lists.
The notice has sparked political reactions across Bihar, with several parties demanding an inquiry into the alleged duplication. If proven, the case could carry both legal and reputational repercussions for Kishor and his party, Jan Suraaj.