EC issues notice to Prashant Kishor over 'double voter registration'

The Election Commission EC has issued a notice to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor over alleged double enrolment as a voter in Bihar and West Bengal seeking his clarification within three days news agency ANI reportedThe notice issued by the returning officer of Kargahar Assembly Constituency read As per a news item published on 28102025 your name is registered in the electoral rolls of Bihar and West Bengal Therefore you should present your side within three days regarding the entry of your name in more than one constituencyThe notice further stated that according to the newspaper report Kishorrsquos name appears in West Bengalrsquos Bhabanipur Constituency as well as in the 209 Kargahar Legislative Assembly Constituency in Bihar ANI reportedIt also cited Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act 1950 which prohibits a person from being registered in more than one constituency The violation of the law can lead to imprisonment for up to one year a fine or both under Section 31 of the same ActYou are requested to ensure compliance Accordingly you are required to submit your explanation regarding the registration of your name in more than one constituency within three days the notice addedPolling for the Bihar Elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11 The votes will be counted on November 14EC has conducted a Special Intensive Revision SIR to update the voter list a move that drew criticism from Opposition parties The notice has attracted attention amid heightened scrutiny of voter rolls in Bihar with authorities taking steps to ensure transparency ahead of the pollsEarlier on Monday Chief Election Commissioner CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced that the poll body will carry out the second phase of SIR of electoral rolls across 12 States and Union Territories with the final voter list scheduled for publication on February 7 2026Addressing a press conference in New Delhi CEC Kumar said the exercise will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chhattisgarh Goa Gujarat Kerala Lakshadweep Madhya Pradesh Puducherry Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh and West BengalAccording to the EC printing and training will take place from October 28 to November 3 followed by an Enumeration Phase from November to December 4 The Draft Electoral Rolls will be published on December 9 with a claims and objections period from December 9 to January 8 2026 The Notice Phase for hearing and verification will run from December 9 to January 31 2026 leading to the final electoral rolls publication on February 7 2026The second phase of SIR is about to be carried out in 12 States and UTs the CEC saidHowever separate orders will be issued for Assam which has distinct provisions under the Citizenship Act Kumar addedSpeaking at the press conference Kumar said that citizenship verification in Assam conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court is nearing completionUnder Indias Citizenship Act there are separate provisions for Assam Under the supervision of the Supreme Court the checking of citizenship there is about to be completed The June 24 SIR order was for the entire country Under such circumstances this would not have been applicable to Assam So separate orders for revision will be issued for Assam he saidSection 6A of the Citizenship Act 1955 provides for special provisions for citizenship covered by the Assam AccordFollowing the Supreme Courtrsquos directions the ECI has included Aadhaar in the list of 12 indicative documents as per its September 9 order relating to SIR in BiharWith ANI inputs