The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor for allegedly being enrolled as a voter in both Bihar and West Bengal. The notice comes after a report claimed that Kishor’s name appears in the electoral rolls of both states.
ECI Seeks Clarification from Prashant Kishor
According to the notice, Kishor is registered as a voter at “Nirmal Hriday School, Beadon Street, Kolkata” under the Bhabanipur constituency, and also in Bihar’s 209-Kargahar Assembly Constituency with voter ID IUJ1323718. The ECI reminded that under Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, no person can be registered as a voter in more than one constituency. Violation of this rule is punishable under Section 31 of the same Act.
“You are requested to clarify within three days regarding your name being registered in more than one constituency,” the notice read.
What Is The Issue of Dual Voter Entries?
As per The Indian Express report, Kishor is registered as a voter under the Sasaram Parliamentary constituency in Bihar’s Kargahar Assembly seat, with his polling station at Madhya Vidyalay, Konar, in Rohtas district — his paternal village. Meanwhile, his Bengal voter ID lists 121 Kalighat Road, Kolkata — the address of the Trinamool Congress office in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s constituency.
Background And Political Context
Kishor, a former political strategist, had worked with the Trinamool Congress during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. His polling station was listed as St. Helen School on B Ranishankari Lane. A senior member from Kishor’s team told The Indian Express that he became a voter in Bihar after the Bengal polls and had applied to cancel his West Bengal voter card, though the status of that request remains unclear.
Reactions From Bengal
Kajari Banerjee, local TMC councilor and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s sister-in-law, confirmed that 121 Kalighat Road is indeed the Trinamool Congress office. “He (Kishor) used to visit and stay in that building (during his work with the TMC). I am not sure whether he enrolled (as a voter) from here or not,” she said.
The ECI has now sought a formal clarification from Kishor, who must respond within three days. If found guilty of dual registration, action will be taken as per the provisions of the Representation of the People Act.
