New Delhi – The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday voiced strong dissatisfaction with the Election Commission's (EC) response regarding the duplication of voter card numbers, demanding that the poll panel formally acknowledge the error within 24 hours.
Addressing a press conference, TMC Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Party Leader Derek O'Brien, alongside TMC Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader Sagarika Ghose and Lok Sabha MP Kirti Azad, presented documents highlighting instances of voter ID cards bearing identical Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers. The leaders alleged that the majority of such cases were found in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Concerns Over Electoral Integrity
"We want only residents of a state to vote in that state—only Bengal’s voters should vote in Bengal," O'Brien asserted. "With identical EPIC numbers, some people will be brought in from other states to cast votes fraudulently. This is unacceptable."
The EC, in response to reports on identical voter card numbers being issued in different states, stated on Sunday that it would rectify the issue and upgrade its technology-driven electoral platform. The Commission clarified that while certain voters might have identical EPIC numbers, other details—including demographic information, assembly constituency, and polling booth—remain distinct.
‘Epic Scam’ Allegations and Call for Accountability
Dismissing the EC’s clarification, O'Brien labeled the situation an “Epic Scam”, accusing the Commission of issuing its statement only after the TMC announced its press conference. "We acknowledge the EC’s limited admission, but they are yet to fully accept the error," he said.
O'Brien further urged the poll body to acknowledge the mistake outright. “We humbly request the EC to fully accept the error within 24 hours. If they fail to do so, we will release more documents at 9 AM on Tuesday,” he warned.
TMC Calls for Thorough Investigation
The party also demanded a comprehensive probe into the matter, emphasizing that electoral integrity must not be compromised.
The EC had previously explained that the issuance of identical EPIC numbers in different states and Union Territories resulted from a "decentralized and manual mechanism" used before all electoral roll data was integrated into ERONET, the Election Commission’s modernized Electoral Roll Management platform.
With the TMC raising serious concerns over electoral fairness, the pressure is now on the Election Commission to take concrete steps to restore confidence in the voting process.
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