Concerns Raised: RJD's Manoj Jha Highlights Duplicate Voter Card Issue in Rajya Sabha

Synopsis

On March 12, RJD's Manoj Jha highlighted serious concerns about the duplication of electoral photo identity cards (EPICs) in the Rajya Sabha, urging for immediate action from the Election Commission to preserve the integrity of elections.

Key Takeaways

Manoj Jha raised concerns about duplicate EPICs in Rajya Sabha.
Integrity of the electoral process is fundamental to democracy.
EPIC numbering inconsistencies were highlighted.
Jha called for urgent action from the Election Commission.
Previous discussions on the issue were rejected by the Deputy Chairman.

New Delhi, March 12 (NationPress) The duplication of electoral photo identity cards (EPICs) was brought to light by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) member Manoj Jha during a session of the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The RJD MP expressed his worries regarding the integrity of the electoral process, asserting that free and fair elections are fundamental to democracy and not merely procedural.

"The duplication of EPIC cards poses a significant problem. Numerous duplicate cards have surfaced, undermining the fairness of elections. This concern is particularly troubling in a state adjacent to another state," Jha remarked.

While addressing the issue with the Deputy Chairman's consent, Jha highlighted inconsistencies within the EPIC numbering system. "The first three characters of the EPIC card denote the assembly constituency. However, these characters are being repeated across various constituencies within the same state," he pointed out.

"Democracy hinges on the integrity of elections. Should the election process be compromised or marred by fraud, it endangers the entire democratic framework," he added.

Jha urged the Election Commission to act swiftly in investigating the duplication of EPIC cards. "It is vital to trace the source of this irregularity and correct it promptly. Furthermore, the Election Commission should publish an updated voter list that highlights deleted, added, and modified entries," he stated.

Previously, several MPs had sought a discussion on this matter under Rule 267, which permits the suspension of regular proceedings to address urgent matters, but their request was turned down by the Deputy Chairman.

Members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Biju Janata Dal had submitted notices under Rule 267 the previous day, aiming to suspend all scheduled business to deliberate on the EPIC matter. However, Deputy Chairman Harivansh dismissed the notices, advising that they should be submitted under a different rule.

A delegation of ten Trinamool MPs met with the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the same day regarding bogus voters in West Bengal and raised pertinent questions about the duplicate EPIC numbers allegedly in circulation.