TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale in an X post hit out at Election Commission Of India (ECI) following poll body’s admission of discrepancies in Election Photo Identity Card Numbers (EPIC) while demanding explanation on the issue.
While sharing EC’s press release, the TMC MP stated, “Election Commission of India has finally ‘admitted & accepted their guilt’ today that duplicate EPIC numbers have been allotted to multiple people.”
Saket Gokhale Raises Questions Over ECI
The TMC MP in his post also raised certain questions, ‘How was an “incorrect series” allegedly used when ECI’s Handbook for Electoral Registration Officers has clear guidelines?’
Besides he also questioned, ‘What happened to the software that’s supposed to catch this? – If ECI says this has happened since 2000, why was nothing done for 25 years until CM Mamata Banerjee pointed it out?’
He further said, ‘Why hasn’t ECI still revealed how many duplicate EPICs currently exist? This is the 2nd eyewash in a week being passed off as a “clarification” by ECI. What is the ECI hiding and who are they trying to protect?’ Gokhale also termed it a scam and demanded answers.
“What is the ECI hiding and who are they trying to protect? This is a scam & answers must be given,” the caption further read.
ECI To Address Decades-Long Issue
In the press note the poll body announced that it will resolve the longstanding issue of duplicate Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers within the next three months. ECI’s press note read, “The Commission has now decided to resolve this decades -long issue of duplicate EPIC numbers within 3 months.”
ECI Justifies Duplicate EPIC Numbers
The ECI in its statement has said that Irrespective of an EPIC number, an elector who is linked to the electoral roll of a particular polling station can cast his vote at that polling station only and nowhere else.
Issue Started In 2000s
ECI said the issue started due to incorrect series usage when the EPIC system was introduced in the year 2000. Since individual states and union territories managed electoral roll databases independently, errors in numbering went undetected at the national level.
ECI Provides Solution
To resolve the issue, ECI said it will ensure a unique national EPIC number for all existing voters with duplicate numbers and for new voters in the future.
Mamata Alleges Voter Fraud
Days ago West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had alleged a voter fraud. Mamta claimed that there were several electors with the same Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number. Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP was colluding with Election Commission to try and influence the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections using fake voters.
ECIs Initial Response
The EC’s initial response on Sunday was that some electors do indeed have identical EPIC numbers, but they belonged to different states. EC also said that duplication in EPIC numbers does not imply duplicate/fake voters.
