The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice to political strategist and Jan Suraaj Party leader Prashant Kishor after it was found that his name appears in the electoral rolls of both Bihar and West Bengal.
As reported, the notice was served by the Returning Officer of the Kargahar Assembly constituency in Sasaram, Rohtas district (Bihar). Records show that Kishor is enrolled as a voter in Part 367 (Middle School, Konar, North Section) under polling booth number 621, with Voter ID (EPIC) number 1013123718.
However, his name is also reported to be listed in the Bhowanipore Assembly constituency of West Bengal, where the polling station is located at St. Helen School, B Ranishankari Lane.
The notice cites Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which prohibits any individual from being registered as a voter in more than one constituency. A violation of this rule may attract penalties under Section 31 of the Act – including imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both.
The ECI has directed Kishor to submit an explanation within three days, clarifying how his name came to be enrolled in two separate state electoral rolls.
Neither Kishor nor representatives of the Jan Suraaj Party have publicly responded to the notice so far.
