Election Commission of India (ECI), on Tuesday, revealed that election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj Party, is enrolled as a voter in two states—in poll-bound Bihar and West Bengal—in violation of the electoral laws.
Kishor is enrolled as a voter in West Bengal at 121, Kalighat Road in Kolkata's Bhabanipur assembly constituency and at Kargahar assembly segment under Sasaram parliamentary constituency in Rohtas district of Bihar.
Kishor had worked as a political consultant for the TMC in the 2021 assembly elecions, while his party is contesting in the upcoming Bihar polls.
Kargahar assembly constituency returning office has writen to the Jan Suraaj founder saying, "According to 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."
EC has acknowledged that duplication of voter entries is a recurring issue and cited it as one reason for launching the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls throughout the country.
The poll official referred to Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to say that nobody is allowed to register in more than one constituency.
The section states: "No person to be registered in more than one constituency.—No person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for more than one constituency."
And as per Section 18: "No Person to be registered more than once in any constituency.—No person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for any constituency more than once."