The Election Commission has initiated an investigation into RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, focusing on allegations of him possessing two EPIC numbers. A formal notice has been issued, requesting the original copies of his voter ID cards. This move is in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding the validity of two different EPIC numbers associated with Yadav. The EC’s investigation was triggered by discrepancies observed between the EPIC number displayed by Yadav and the official records.
It is illegal in India for an individual to have more than one voter ID, which is a violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Those found guilty can face imprisonment or fines. The Election Commission is investigating the veracity of these claims, and if proven, it could be a serious electoral violation.
While Tejashwi’s valid EPIC number is RAB0456228, the Election Commission was unable to find any record of RAB2916120. Therefore, the Election Commission has sent a notice to Tejashwi, requesting the original copies of his voter ID cards. This matter has created political tension in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The dispute originated when Tejashwi stated that his name was not on the draft voter list.
During a press conference, Yadav displayed EPIC number RAB2916120, which, upon verification, returned a ‘no record found’ message. The Election Commission later confirmed that Yadav’s name was indeed on the draft voter list, tied to the EPIC number RAB0456228. The Commission noted that Yadav used this EPIC number in the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections.
The Election Commission is probing the situation further, believing the second EPIC number might be fake. Tejashwi has been asked to clarify the discrepancies concerning the RAB2916120 number. Yadav has dismissed these claims as a political conspiracy, alleging that his EPIC number was changed.
The issue of alleged duplicate EPIC numbers has led to criticism from BJP and JDU leaders. The Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and a JDU leader have cited violations of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. A BJP MP has questioned how Tejashwi has two EPIC numbers, accusing him of misleading the public. The MP emphasized that having two voter ID cards is a serious offense, clarifying that the one used in the 2020 election is the same as the one he currently possesses.
In the initial phase of the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiative in Bihar, there are a total of 7.24 crore registered voters. About 65 lakh names have been removed from the voter list, including those of deceased individuals, individuals who have relocated, and foreign nationals. The Election Commission has stated that Bihar had a total of 7.89 crore voters as of June 24, 2025. The SVEEP program in Bihar was launched on June 24, 2025, and the first phase was completed on July 26.