A massive controversy over the possible mass duplication of EPIC card numbers in West Bengal’s voter’s list indicating an institutional move to facilitate the spurious injection of illegitimate voters has erupted with Chief Minister of the state, Mamata Banerjee raising the issue with detailed documentation at a public rally on February 27. Thereafter, a 10-member TMC delegation met with the ECI on March 11.
On March 2, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a rather vague statement, admitting to the fact that duplicate EPIC numbers have been issued but stating that this duplication is because of manual de-centralisation and does not necessarily mean any fraudulent or duplicate voter inclusion! The ECI also said that, while it is true that some electors have the same EPIC number, other important details, such as demographic information, Assembly Constituency, and polling booth, differ for these electors.
Incidentally the Election Commission’s own Handbook states that duplicate EPIC numbers cannot be given and the responsibility for the same lies with the ECI.
The TMC’s documented allegations on duplicated EPIC card numbers granted to voters have lent substance to the possibility that spurious injections of votes could take place, voters who are not legitimate voters in a particular constituency can be allowed to vote there.
The controversy surrounding EPIC number duplication has escalated with allegations and strongest move over the allegation of voter manipulation against the Election Commission from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of colluding with the Election Commission to manipulate the voter list for the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The allegations were first made on February 27 and reiterated after March 2, with a delegation of TMC MPs visiting the ECI with documentation to substantiate the claim.
Unable to in anyway now disregard the mounting allegations by the TMC related to forthcoming West Bengal assembly elections in 2026, almost a fortnight later, the Election Commission has finally called on all national and state political parties to submit their suggestions by April 30 in order to address any unresolved electoral issues. These concerns are to be reviewed at various levels, including those of Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), District Election Officers (DEO), and Chief Electoral Officers (CEO), reported by the TOI.
The request was made as part of ongoing efforts by opposition parties and leaders, first INC and AAP, now TMC, demanding the integrity and accuracy of voter rolls and electoral processes.
Earlier the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Aam Admi Party (AAP) had raised concerns of mass increases and deletions from voter’s lists related to the Maharashtra assembly elections (2024) and the Delhi state elections (2025). While the INC made these complaints only after the polls, AAP had also made them prior to the state elections in February.
Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of manipulating voter lists ahead of Bengal elections
On February 27, 2025, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed a gathering of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, asserted that the BJP, in collusion with the Election Commission, had been adding fake voters to the rolls in these states. She stated that her party had caught the discrepancies that the opposition parties had failed to notice in Maharashtra and Delhi. The TMC leader claimed that the BJP was now targeting Bengal with similar tactics, vowing that the state would not be another conquest on the BJP’s electoral map. Mamta Banerjee’s allegations were substantiated with documentation that led to a “clarification” by the ECI on March 2.
Mamta said that, “BJP would be gravely mistaken if they think Bengal is just another stop on their conquest map, another Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, or Uttar Pradesh to subjugate. Bengal has never bowed. Bengal has never surrendered. And in 2026, Bengal will rise once again to remind Delhi that our soil is not up for grabs, our identity is not theirs to rewrite. Ahead of 2026 Assembly Elections, fake voters are being smuggled into electoral rolls. But no amount of electoral fraud, no puppet Election Commission, no misuse of central agencies will alter Bengal’s destiny. I call upon my brave soldiers of Trinamool Congress to stay vigilant. A special committee has been set up to monitor every move. If BJP thinks they can steal Bengal, they are in for the fight of their lives.”
এই শিকল পরা ছল মোদের, এ শিকল-পরা ছল।
এই শিকল পরেই শিকল তোদের করব রে বিকল॥BJP would be gravely mistaken if they think Bengal is just another stop on their conquest map, another Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, or Uttar Pradesh to subjugate. Bengal has never bowed. Bengal has never… pic.twitter.com/kEAYAEn2KT
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 27, 2025
“This election is a call to arms to protect our culture, our identity, and our unity. It is a battle to uphold the constitutional values that define us, to send a resounding message to Delhi: divisive forces will find no ground in Bengal. Bengal has never bowed to external forces seeking to dictate its destiny. This soil of great martyrs and revolutionaries will deliver a fitting response to the BJP” she added
Banerjee also issued a direct challenge to the BJP, declaring that Bengal would decisively reject their influence, saying, “After Maharashtra and Delhi, now you are targeting Bengal. We will give you a befitting reply. Once again ‘khela hobe’. I am asking party workers to hit the ball harder this time.” She concluded that the TMC’s goal of winning over 215 seats and pushing the BJP’s numbers down.
Setting the stage for the 2026 Assembly elections, Mamata urged her party to secure more than 215 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly. Banerjee warned that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was attempting to manipulate the voter lists with the help of the Election Commission, mirroring alleged tactics used in Maharashtra and Delhi.
Allegations of duplicate EPIC numbers and fake voters in Bengal
Banerjee took the opportunity to display a list she claimed contained names of fake voters in electoral rolls. According to her, these voters, some from out of state, were fraudulently added to Bengal’s electoral roll. She cited examples of names from states like Haryana and Gujarat, which appeared alongside the names of Bengal residents, all with identical EPIC numbers. Banerjee’s allegations were focused on the claim that these fake voters were being added to the rolls online, further fueling concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, reported The Indian Express
She also made an aggressive accusation against the Election Commission, alleging that it had become complicit in the BJP’s efforts to manipulate the voter list. This led Banerjee to issue a stern warning that if corrective actions were not taken, her party would take to the streets to demand accountability from the Election Commission.
Questions over the functioning of Election Commission
During her address, Banerjee accused the Election Commission of being influenced by the BJP, specifically calling out the new Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. She pointed out that Kumar had previously held a position as a secretary in the cooperation department under Union Home Minister Amit Shah, suggesting a potential conflict of interest. Banerjee’s comments highlighted growing distrust in the impartiality of the Election Commission as ECI is under the watch of opposition parties since Lok Sabha Election 2024
In a bold declaration, Banerjee warned that if the Election Commission failed to act, her party would resort to extreme measures, including staging a prolonged protest. She reminded the gathering of her history of activism, referencing her 26-day hunger strike during the anti-land acquisition movement in 2006. Banerjee asserted that TMC was fully prepared to launch a movement against the Election Commission to restore fairness to the electoral process, should the need arise. She said:
“If I could go on a 26-day hunger strike during the anti-land acquisition movement in 2006, don’t forget we can also launch a movement against the Election Commission, forcing them to restore democracy. If required, we will protest indefinitely in front of the EC office to demand the removal of fake names from the voter roll” reported The Indian Express.
TMC’s allegations: duplicate EPIC numbers in Bengal
The TMC’s allegations of voter list manipulation has been based on their own review that the same EPIC numbers have been assigned to multiple electors in different regions, which they argue compromises the integrity of the electoral roll. Mamata Banerjee, speaking to party workers in Kolkata, stressed that the verification of the voter list should be a priority to prevent the insertion of fake voters. She claimed that the BJP, with the Election Commission’s tacit support, was attempting to manipulate the voter rolls in Bengal, just as they had allegedly done in Maharashtra and Delhi.
Banerjee’s accusations were compounded by the assertion that non-residents were being brought into Bengal to vote under false pretences using duplicate EPIC numbers. The TMC doubled down on these claims in subsequent statements, calling for an immediate and thorough examination of the voter lists in Bengal.
The Election Commission’s response: EPIC numbers and voter identity
In response to the allegations, the Election Commission on March 2, (Sunday) clarified that while some electors have identical EPIC numbers, this does not imply any fraudulent or duplicate voter registrations.
ECI said that, while it is true that some electors have the same EPIC number, other important details, such as demographic information, Assembly Constituency, and polling booth, differ for these electors. As such, individuals with identical EPIC numbers cannot vote outside of their designated polling station within their respective State or Union Territory (UT), where they are officially enrolled in the electoral roll.
Over the allegations surfaced on social media posts and media reporting over the duplicate EPIC numbers, ECI replied that, “The Election Commission has taken cognizance of certain social media posts and media reports flagging the issue of electors of two different states having identical EPIC numbers. In this regard, it is clarified that while EPIC numbers of some of the electors may be identical, the other details including demographic details, Assembly Constituency and polling booth are different for the electors with the same EPIC number. Irrespective of the EPIC number, any elector can cast a vote only at their designated polling station in their respective Constituency in their State/UT where they are enrolled in the electoral roll and nowhere else.”
ECI further added that, “the allotment of identical EPIC number/series to some electors from different States/UTs was due to a decentralized and manual mechanism being followed prior to shifting of the electoral roll database of all States/UTs to the ERONET platform. This resulted in certain State/UT CEO offices using the same EPIC alphanumeric series and leaving a scope for the possibility of duplicate EPIC numbers being allotted to electors in different Assembly Constituencies in different States/UTs.”
ECI’s Press Note dated March 2, 2025
The ECI also said that any cases of duplicate EPIC numbers would be rectified, with affected electors receiving a new unique EPIC number. Additionally, the ERONET 2.0 platform will be updated to facilitate and support this process.
ECI has now transformed into the BJP’s “roll-rigging department: TMC
In response to the ECI’s press statement on the issue, the TMC issued an official statement criticising the ECI’s handling of the matter. The party wrote on its X handle that the once-neutral ECI has now transformed into the BJP’s “roll-rigging department.” TMC further stated, “Election fraud of EPIC proportions! Smt. @MamataOfficial warned how @BJP4India was hijacking democracy, and now @ECISVEEP ’s own admission proves her right. Duplicate EPIC numbers across states?”
Election fraud of EPIC proportions! Smt. @MamataOfficial warned how @BJP4India was hijacking democracy, and now @ECISVEEP’s own admission proves her right.
Duplicate EPIC numbers across states? A ‘manual error’ or a meticulously crafted scam to rig elections? They manipulated… pic.twitter.com/IjN2aE9y7G
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 2, 2025
TMC Rajya Sabha MP and former journalist Sagarika Ghose expressed her dissatisfaction with the Election Commission’s response, labelling it as “unsatisfactory response” and describing the issue of duplicate EPIC numbers as a scandal. She took to X (formerly Twitter) to write that, “duplicate EPIC cards are a shocking SCANDAL. Totally unsatisfactory response from @ECISVEEP. A full, fair and time bound investigation of electoral rolls must be done NOW. Free and fair elections are the core of democracy!”
Duplicate EPIC cards are a shocking SCANDAL. Totally unsatisfactory response from @ECISVEEP . A full, fair and time bound investigation of electoral rolls must be done NOW. Free and fair elections are the core of democracy! https://t.co/g2CexIlxuA
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) March 2, 2025
“A ‘manual error’ or a meticulously crafted scam to rig elections? They manipulated voter rolls in Maharashtra & Delhi and got away with it. They tried the same in Bengal but got caught. The ‘neutral’ ECI has turned into BJP’s poll-rigging department. Democracy is not a Modi-made product that can be tampered, tweaked, and sold off. WE WON’T LET YOU STEAL ELECTIONS!” Ghose questioned on her X post.
TMC’s 24 hours deadline to ECI, must accept error in 24 hours
On March 3, 2025, the Trinamool Congress voiced strong dissatisfaction with the Election Commission’s March 3 response to their concerns about duplicate EPIC numbers in the voter rolls. The party criticized the ECI for failing to properly address the issue and warned that if the Election Commission did not formally acknowledge the error within 24 hours, they would present additional evidence on March 4. During a press conference, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagrika Ghose, TMC leader Derek O’Brien, and Kirti Azad elaborated on the alleged scam surrounding the issuance of duplicate voter EPIC cards. They demanded immediate action from the Election Commission, insisting that the integrity of the electoral process must be safeguarded.
Rejecting the Election Commission’s clarification on the issue of duplicate voter identity cards, the Trinamool Congress said that while the ECI had acknowledged the error, it had not yet accepted responsibility for it. The party promised to present further evidence within the next 24 hours.
However, Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien clarified that this is not a threat but giving the respected ECI time to accept their error. He said that, “ECI is admitting the error but not accepting the error. In the next 24 hours, ECI must accept the error. If you do not do this, we will share another document tomorrow at 9 am. This is not a threat. It is giving the respected Election Commission of India time to accept their error,”
ECI’s Handbook says EPIC numbers cannot be duplicated
On March 4, TMC intensified its allegations of “ghost voters” in West Bengal, citing the Election Commission’s “Handbook for Electoral Registration Officers, 2012”, which states that EPIC numbers cannot be duplicated.
TMC said that the rebuttal issued by the party was based on the ECI’s own “Handbook for Electoral Registration Officers” published in the year 2012. As per the handbook, “same” photograph would come for all electors who have the same EPIC numbers”. [Para No. 14 of Chapter IX – Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC)]
A day earlier, TMC accused the Commission of a “scam” in issuing duplicate voter IDs and gave them a 24-hour deadline to “acknowledge the mistake.” The party claims that individuals from other states were registered under the same EPIC numbers as legitimate West Bengal voters, with Mamata Banerjee dubbing them “ghost voters.”
What are EPIC numbers?
EPIC numbers, first introduced in 1993 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, serve as identity documents to prevent voter impersonation.
Notably, the EPIC numbers are a crucial part of the electoral process, as they help identify voters and ensure the integrity of elections. However, as per the EC’s Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, each EPIC is supposed to have a unique number, which includes a Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN) for every Assembly constituency. With the advent of the ERONET platform in 2017, the process of issuing EPIC numbers has been streamlined. The manual states that a unique EPIC number is issued for the first-time voter, and any replacement EPIC retains the original number, further ensuring consistency in voter identity.
TMC’s 10-member delegation met Election Commission over ‘fake voter’ issue
On March 11, a 10-member TMC delegation, including prominent MPs such as Derek O’Brien and Kalyan Banerjee, met with the Election Commission in New Delhi. The delegation presented evidence of what they claimed to be fake voters found in various districts of West Bengal.
The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) delegation, which included MPs Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sagarika Ghose, Kirti Azad, Sajda Ahmed, and others, addressed the issues of duplicate EPIC numbers and discrepancies in the voter list of West Bengal during the meeting with the Election Commission, reported The Hindu.
Source: The Hindu
In their memorandum to the ECI, raised concerns with the ECI regarding the issue, flagging the serious allegations of duplicate EPICs. The party posted on its X handle that, “the EPIC number duplication SCAM is the BIGGEST ELECTORAL FRAUD of our times, and the @ECISVEEP has a lot to answer for! A 10-member delegation of our MPs met the CEC demanding:
Why was this buried for years until Smt. @MamataOfficial exposed it?
How can ECI “fix” it in 3 months when no action was taken for years?
How many duplicate EPICs exist, and in which states?
Will voters with duplicate EPICs be disenfranchised?
How is Aadhaar cloning impacting voter registration and electoral rolls?”
The EPIC number duplication SCAM is the BIGGEST ELECTORAL FRAUD of our times, and the @ECISVEEP has a lot to answer for!
A 10-member delegation of our MPs met the CEC demanding:
❌ Why was this buried for years until Smt. @MamataOfficial exposed it?
❌ How can ECI “fix” it in 3… pic.twitter.com/4nDJDQvopZ— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 11, 2025
Earlier, on March 6, a TMC delegation had met with the Chief Electoral Officer to address the alleged discrepancies in the state’s voter list. The delegation, which included West Bengal State President Subrata Bakshi and legislators Firhad Hakim, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Aroop Biswas, and Ritabrata Banerjee, had engaged in discussions with the Chief Electoral Officer regarding the reported irregularities in the state’s electoral rolls.
All concerns would be resolved: ECI to TMC delegation over EPIC number
On March 11, the Election Commission met with the TMC delegation and assured that all concerns, including duplicate EPIC numbers, duplicate, shifted, and deceased voters, as well as illegal migrants, would be addressed by each Booth Level Officer and the concerned Electoral Registration Officer. The apex poll body further stated in a post on X that this process would involve the active participation of Booth Level Agents appointed by all political parties.
Link:
ECI welcomed the delegation of @AITCofficial today.
The Commission mentioned that all concerns including duplicate EPIC numbers, duplicate, shifted & dead voters &illegal migrants will be resolved by each Booth Level Officer & concerned Electoral Registration Officer..
1/2
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) March 11, 2025
However, after the delegation met with the Election Commission, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose stated, “The issue of duplicate EPIC cards is extremely serious… All opposition parties have recognized it ever since West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged the issue… Ever since we have provided solid evidence of duplicate EPIC cards, the Election Commission is still not telling us how many duplicate EPIC cards are there… We have given some suggestions on how electoral rolls can be cleaned up… If there are any changes in the electoral roll, the Election Commission should bring out a separate roll and mention where the deletions and changes have been made”
Link:
#WATCH | Delhi: After the TMC delegation’s visit to the Election Commission office, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose says, “The issue of duplicate EPIC cards is extremely serious…All opposition parties have recognized it ever since West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged the… pic.twitter.com/6yyxvlylCN
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2025
“We have already provided solid evidence on duplicate EPIC cards. There is credible evidence that Aadhaar cards are being cloned and they are being used for fake voter registration… How will the Election Commission ensure that the cloning of the Aadhaar card will not affect the EPIC card? Transparency and rigorous investigation is necessary. Stonewalling will not work. The Election Commission has to walk the talk because electoral rolls are central to a free and fair poll” Ghosh added
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