Prashant Kishor Responds to Two Voter ID Controversy, Says ‘EC’s Job to Delete Multiple Entries’
Jan Suraaj founder and political strategist-turned-leader Prashant Kishor has reacted to the Election Commission’s notice accusing him of being registered as a voter in both Bihar and West Bengal. Campaigning in poll-bound Bihar, Kishor maintained that he has not violated any law and that it is the Election Commission’s responsibility to remove duplicate entries.
Speaking to LiveMint during his campaign in Madhepura on October 29, Kishor clarified, “I am a registered voter here in Karghar vidhan sabha since 2019. I have been a voter in West Bengal for two years when I was there. It is a normal process. I came back to Bihar in 2022 and got registered here as a voter.” He further criticised the Election Commission for not updating its records, saying, “Ab election commission usko delete karta nahi hai aur phir kahega ki double entry hai triple entry hai.”
On October 28, the Election Commission of India issued a notice to Kishor, citing Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, which prohibits a person from being registered as a voter in more than one constituency. Violation of this provision is punishable with imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both. The notice, sent by the Returning Officer of Bihar’s Kargahar Assembly Constituency, referred to a media report that listed Kishor as a voter in both states. The poll body has given him three days to respond.
According to official records accessed by PTI, Kishor is registered as a voter at 121 Kalighat Road, Kolkata — the address of the Trinamool Congress headquarters in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is the sitting MLA. His polling station is listed as St Helen School on B Ranishankari Lane. Kishor had previously worked as the poll strategist for the Trinamool Congress during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Reacting strongly to the controversy, Kishor accused the Election Commission of political theatrics. “Yeah to rajnitik shagoofabaazi aap kar rahe hai. Aap mera EPIC download kar dijiye, Karghar vidhan sabha se aur dekhiye ki mein apne Kunar gaon se voter hun,” he said, asserting that he has been a valid voter in Bihar since 2022.
Explaining the situation further, Kishor said, “Kolkata mein kabhi tha. Agar aap SIR kar rahe hai, naam delete karna aapka kaam hai. Aur hum logon ne pehle bhi application diya hua hai. Ki bhai humne transfer kara liya lekin agar EPIC number integrated hai aur aapne yahan par mujhe voter banaya to apne aap wahan delete hona chahiye. Isi liye to logon ki multiple entry hojati hai.”
The controversy comes at a time when the Election Commission has launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in 12 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. The final voter lists are expected to be published on February 7, 2026.
In his earlier remarks to PTI, Kishor challenged the allegations directly, saying, “If there’s wrongdoing, then arrest me and prove it.” The issue has stirred debate in Bihar’s political circles, as Kishor intensifies his campaign ahead of state elections, projecting himself as an alternative voice in state politics through his Jan Suraaj movement .
Observers note that the row may turn into a political flashpoint, with Kishor positioning himself as a victim of bureaucratic oversight while the Election Commission seeks to maintain procedural integrity.
Speaking to LiveMint during his campaign in Madhepura on October 29, Kishor clarified, “I am a registered voter here in Karghar vidhan sabha since 2019. I have been a voter in West Bengal for two years when I was there. It is a normal process. I came back to Bihar in 2022 and got registered here as a voter.” He further criticised the Election Commission for not updating its records, saying, “Ab election commission usko delete karta nahi hai aur phir kahega ki double entry hai triple entry hai.”
On October 28, the Election Commission of India issued a notice to Kishor, citing Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, which prohibits a person from being registered as a voter in more than one constituency. Violation of this provision is punishable with imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both. The notice, sent by the Returning Officer of Bihar’s Kargahar Assembly Constituency, referred to a media report that listed Kishor as a voter in both states. The poll body has given him three days to respond.
According to official records accessed by PTI, Kishor is registered as a voter at 121 Kalighat Road, Kolkata — the address of the Trinamool Congress headquarters in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is the sitting MLA. His polling station is listed as St Helen School on B Ranishankari Lane. Kishor had previously worked as the poll strategist for the Trinamool Congress during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Reacting strongly to the controversy, Kishor accused the Election Commission of political theatrics. “Yeah to rajnitik shagoofabaazi aap kar rahe hai. Aap mera EPIC download kar dijiye, Karghar vidhan sabha se aur dekhiye ki mein apne Kunar gaon se voter hun,” he said, asserting that he has been a valid voter in Bihar since 2022.
Explaining the situation further, Kishor said, “Kolkata mein kabhi tha. Agar aap SIR kar rahe hai, naam delete karna aapka kaam hai. Aur hum logon ne pehle bhi application diya hua hai. Ki bhai humne transfer kara liya lekin agar EPIC number integrated hai aur aapne yahan par mujhe voter banaya to apne aap wahan delete hona chahiye. Isi liye to logon ki multiple entry hojati hai.”
The controversy comes at a time when the Election Commission has launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in 12 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. The final voter lists are expected to be published on February 7, 2026.
In his earlier remarks to PTI, Kishor challenged the allegations directly, saying, “If there’s wrongdoing, then arrest me and prove it.” The issue has stirred debate in Bihar’s political circles, as Kishor intensifies his campaign ahead of state elections, projecting himself as an alternative voice in state politics through his Jan Suraaj movement .
Observers note that the row may turn into a political flashpoint, with Kishor positioning himself as a victim of bureaucratic oversight while the Election Commission seeks to maintain procedural integrity.
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