Patna (Bihar) [India], October 28 : After the Electoral Officer issued a notice to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor over alleged dual voter registration in Bihar and West Bengal, political temperatures in the state have risen ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. BJP MP Rajeev Pratap Rudy on Tuesday said there is "no need to discuss him" as he has "no ground in the elections."
"...We all politicians need to stay cautious... There is no need to have any discussion on him as he has no ground in the elections," Rudy said.
The remark came after the Election Commission issued a notice to Prashant Kishor over alleged double enrolment as a voter in Bihar and West Bengal, seeking his clarification within three days.
According to the notice issued by the Returning Officer of the Kargahar Assembly Constituency, "As per a news item published on 28.10.2025, 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 constituency."
The notice stated that, as per the newspaper report, Prashant Kishor's name is registered in West Bengal under the Bhabanipur constituency at the polling station, as well as in the 209-Kargahar Legislative Assembly Constituency.
It also referred to Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which prohibits a person from being registered in more than one constituency. Violation of this provision can result in imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both, under Section 31 of the same Act.
"You 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 added.
While responding to the notice, Prashant Kishor questioned the Election Commission's procedures, saying, "If the ECI is saying that my name is enrolled as an elector in other places as well, then why are they troubling everyone by carrying out the SIR? I have nothing to do with the notice issued by the ECI..."
Clarifying his voter registration details, Kishor said, "I am a voter from the Kargahar Assembly constituency since 2019. For two years, while I was in Kolkata, I had applied for a voter ID card there. Since 2021, my voter ID has been for the Kargahar Assembly constituency."