Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday claimed that his name was missing in the “draft electoral rolls” published by the Election Commission as part of the special intensive revision in Bihar, ahead of the assembly polls.
However, the Election Commission has refuted the allegation by sharing Yadav's details from the electoral rolls, calling it a "mischievous claim".
At a press conference, Yadav, a former Deputy CM himself, connected his phone to a large screen and tried to search his own EPIC number, which threw up the result “no records found”.
The young leader exclaimed, “Now look! I am myself not registered as a voter. This disqualifies me from contesting elections. Perhaps, I cease to be treated as a citizen and stand deprived of the right to live in this house."
Yadav, who is now the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, also claimed that he was not provided with any receipt by the booth-level officer who came to his place with an enumeration form.
"But, leaving nothing to chance, I had photographed myself while handing over my signed and duly filled-up form," the RJD leader said.
The Election Commission released a copy of the electoral rolls showing his details, confirming that he was listed at a booth in the Veterinary College in Patna.
"It has come to our attention that Tejashwi Yadav has made a mischievous claim that his name does not appear in the draft electoral roll. His name is listed at Serial Number 416 in the Draft Electoral Roll. Therefore, any claim stating that his name is not included in the draft electoral roll is false and factually incorrect," the commission said.
However, the EPIC number provided by the poll body differed from the one shared by Yadav.
Some of the journalists suggested that he look up a printout of the draft electoral rolls, provided to all political parties by the EC on Saturday, and his name might be there.
Yadav shot back, "The online method is what more people have access to. Would you expect someone residing outside Bihar to come down to look up his name in the electoral rolls? My point is to emphasise that when people like us are at the receiving end, what to speak of the common people. I have got to hear that even an IAS officer couple has found their names missing."
The RJD leader had recently caused a flutter by threatening to “boycott” the upcoming polls, alleging that the EC was trying to “help” the ruling NDA through the special intensive revision.
He also remarked wryly, “I would like to see if any BJP leader also has his name missing in the draft rolls”.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary refuted the claim, sharing a screenshot, purportedly, of the draft electoral rolls in which Yadav's details, along with a photograph, could be seen.
Choudhary came out with a post on his X handle, accusing Yadav of “lacking the qualifications” to do a proper search and find his name.
“Your name is very much alongside that of your father, respected Lalu Prasad (RJD supremo). You would do better to shut your shop dealing in fraudulent and false claims”, Choudhary claimed.