Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 10: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday called for a detailed discussion in Parliament over alleged irregularities in voter lists, including duplication of Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers. Addressing the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, he urged Speaker Om Birla to allow a debate, emphasizing that the entire Opposition sought clarity on the issue.

The demand follows growing concerns over discrepancies in electoral rolls, with the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) recently challenging the Election Commission (EC) on alleged duplication of EPIC numbers. Both parties have warned of an independent investigation if the poll panel fails to address their concerns. Last month, the Congress also raised questions regarding voter list anomalies in Maharashtra, claiming that more names had been added in the past five months than in the previous five years.

Rahul Gandhi underscored the need for transparency, stating that voter lists were under scrutiny across multiple states, including Maharashtra. He insisted that Parliament must debate the matter thoroughly. While acknowledging the Speaker’s stance that the government does not create voter lists, he reiterated the demand for a formal discussion.

As tensions rise, a 10-member TMC delegation is set to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to lodge an official complaint regarding EPIC number duplication. However, the Election Commission has dismissed allegations of voter list manipulation, asserting that identical alphanumeric series in EPIC numbers do not necessarily indicate fraudulent entries.

The controversy gained traction after reports surfaced that multiple individuals shared the same EPIC number, with images circulating on social media. These claims have fueled Opposition concerns that duplicate IDs could lead to electoral malpractice.