TMC Alleges 'Voter Fraud', Flags Duplicate EPIC Numbers in Rolls; EC Clarifies

West Bengal voter rolls show duplicate EPIC numbers, TMC alleges electoral fraud.

(Illustration: Aroop Mishra/The Quint)

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The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), on 28 February, shared a list of people with duplicate EPIC numbers in voter rolls of West Bengal, and other states such as Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.

For context, an EPIC or Electors' Photo Identification Card carries the EPIC number — a 10-digit unique identification number assigned by the Election Commission of India to each registered voter.

This number is essential for casting vote and serves as proof of a person's registration as a voter.

It is, hence, unlikely for two people to have the same EPIC number.

The poll body, however, issued a clarification saying "duplication in EPIC numbers does not imply duplicate/fake voters."

It said, "Irrespective of the EPIC number, any elector can cast a vote only at their designated polling station in their respective constituency in the state where they are enrolled in the electoral roll."

'Plans to Disenfranchise West Bengal Voters' 

In a list of 84 such instances, shared on X, TMC functionaries alleged that this is an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to "disenfranchise West Bengal voters and win the 2026 Assembly elections using electors from other states."

The Quint cross verified these EPIC numbers and details provided by the TMC using the Election Commission of India's Voters' Services Portal. We found that in line with what the TMC has alleged, several West Bengal voters indeed have the same EPIC numbers as voters from other states.

Consider the EPIC Number XYZ0997544. When searched on the portal, it shows names and details of 22-year-old Rimpi from Haryana's Hisar and 34-year-old Golam Masum from West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

Another EPIC number XYZ0603050, when searched on the portal, was also found to have been assigned to Taslima from Murshidabad and Satish Kumar from Hisar. Mith

The EPIC number XYZ0603134 was allotted to Mithu Sekh from Murshidabad and Rakhi from Punjab's Bathinda.

In one case of that of EPIC number XYZ0999615, three results come up on the portal. Two for 34-year-old Suman and one for 34-year-old Nurjamal.

The trick, however, is that while Nurjamal is a resident of Murshidabad, Suman's address in both the cards is different — Haryana's Hisar in one and Murshidabad in another.

It is also important to note that in almost all the instances shared by the TMC, the West Bengal voters who have the same EPIC number as voters from other states were Muslims.

'Fake Voters Being Smuggled Into Electoral Rolls': Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing people on 27 February, alleged that ahead of the 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," she claimed.

Banerjee also said that her party has formed a special committee to monitor any foul play of this kind.