TMC MLA has 2 voter ID cards, alleges BJP. Will EC take note?

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Jhamuria, Hareram Singh, is under attack from the BJP for allegedly possessing two separate voter ID cards under the same name and two EPIC numbers, but from two different states and constituencies.

Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers are unique to each voter. And each voter can have only one EPIC number. Singh allegedly has one voter ID card from Pandabeshwar Assembly constituency in West Bengal and another from Bansdih Assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Singh is an MLA from Jhamuria assembly constituency in West Bardhaman district.

“What will I say? Let the Election Commission check what is there and not there,” said Hareram Singh while reacting to questions on being in possession of two voter ID cards.

BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar questioned the MLA’s name in two different constituencies while emphasising the need for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). “The truth behind this must be exposed immediately. His name appears not only in the West Bengal voter list, but reportedly in Uttar Pradesh as well,” Majumdar posted on X.

BJP’s Agnimitra Paul reacted sharply, too, saying she will appeal to the Uttar Pradesh government to look into the issue. “I will ask the UP government to find out whether Hareram Singh cast his vote in UP or not. Actually, it is not the fault of Hareram Singh. It is the fault of the Trinamool Congress, which has no ethics and ideals,” stressed Paul, alleging that the TMC has lost direction after the announcement of SIR, and that the TMC stands to lose out on words from infiltrators, Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.

The EC is yet to take cognisance of the issue and identify whether there is truth to Hareram Singh’s name in two constituencies.

The SIR began in West Bengal from November 4, with the TMC opposing the voter revision exercise, calling it a mask for the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The TMC also claimed that the BJP orchestrated the SIR by using the EC for their benefit, especially in poll-bound states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, while Assam has been left out of the purview of the SIR.

India