Claim:
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that his name was missing from Bihar’s draft electoral roll and that nearly 65 lakh voters had been removed ahead of the assembly elections. He also claimed that his EPIC number could not retrieve his voter details from the Election Commission’s portal.
Fact:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rebutted Tejashwi Yadav’s claim, calling it factually incorrect. According to the poll body, Yadav’s name does appear in the draft roll, listed at Serial Number 416.
Further, ECI sources stated that the EPIC number Yadav used to check his details was invalid. Preliminary verification even suggests the possibility of multiple voter IDs, prompting an investigation that could lead to an FIR if confirmed.
Evidence & Context:
- The draft electoral roll for Bihar was released after a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
- The ECI clarified that routine voter list revisions involve removing names of deceased voters, duplicates, or those who shifted.
- Yadav’s claim that 65 lakh voters (8.5% of the total) were removed has no independent verification and was not supported with specific evidence.
- The ECI confirmed Yadav’s name is on the draft roll and challenged his assertions as misleading.
- The EPIC number he quoted is invalid, according to poll body sources.
Meanwhile, the episode unfolded alongside Rahul Gandhi’s explosive allegations that the ECI was complicit in “vote theft” to favor the BJP. The Commission dismissed his remarks as baseless and irresponsible, citing that Gandhi was formally invited to present evidence on June 12, 2025, but never responded.
Conclusion:
False Claim. Tejashwi Yadav’s name is present in the draft electoral roll at Serial Number 416, and his claim of removal is factually incorrect, according to the Election Commission.
FactCheck India confirms that while political allegations of mass voter deletions are serious, no evidence currently supports Yadav’s or Rahul Gandhi’s claims of deliberate electoral manipulation.