Kolkata: After Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday had alleged of same EPIC number in different voter cards and alleged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of sending voters in Bengal ahead of 2026 state Assembly election, Election Commission (EC) on Sunday had clarified that duplication in EPIC number does not imply duplicate/fake voters.
“The EC has taken cognizance of certain social media posts and media reports flagging the issue of electors of two different states having identical EPIC numbers. In this regard, it is clarified that while EPIC numbers of some of the electors may be identical, the other details including demographic details, Assembly Constituency and polling booth are different for the electors with the same EPIC number. Irrespective of the EPIC number, any elector can cast a vote only at their designated polling station in their respective Constituency in their State/UT where they are enrolled in the electoral roll and nowhere else,” read the statement issued by EC.
The statement also mentions that EC will ensure allotment of a unique EPIC number to registered electors.
“However, to allay any apprehensions, the Commission has decided to ensure allotment of a unique EPIC number to registered electors. Any case of duplicate EPIC number will be rectified by allotting a unique EPIC number. The ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to aid and assist in this process,” further read the statement.
Notably, at a mega meeting of TMC on February 27, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said ‘fake voters being brought in by the BJP and the saffron camp had hatched a conspiracy to revise the electoral rolls packed with outsiders just to capture Bengal.’
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders even on Sunday were seen checking voters' lists manually at several constituencies.
Taking to X, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “Mamata Banerjee's @MamataOfficial allegations have been proven to be true. Now the Central Election Commission is going into damage control after the conspiracy was exposed. The allegations of the same voter's name being leaked in multiple states have been accepted. There is no good answer to how this happened.” (sic)
