EC asks PK to explain in 3 days how he was 'elector in 2 states'

NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor was on Tuesday issued a notice by the electoral registration officer (ERO) of Kargahar assembly constituency in Bihar 's Sasaram district for reportedly being enrolled as an elector in both Bihar and West Bengal .

Referring to a news report stating Kishor was enrolled in Kargahar as well as Bhowanipore in West Bengal, the ERO asked him to furnish an explanation within three days, as to how he figured in the electoral roll of two different assembly constituencies and states.

Sources in the Election Commission said Kishor may have applied for registration as an elector in the second state by filling up Form 6, which is only meant for new registrations. However, he should have applied through Form 8 - pertaining to shifted voters - since he was already enrolled elsewhere at the time.

Form 8 allows electors to simultaneously apply for deletion of name from where they are already registered and get enrolled at their new place of residence.

The notice sent to Kishor underlined that a person can be enrolled only in one assembly constituency as per Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. "Its violation attracts one-year imprisonment and/or fine as per Section 31 of the Act," it added.

According to the newspaper report published on Tuesday, Kishor is enrolled as an elector at a polling station in Middle School, Konar, in Kargahar as well as at a polling station at St Helen School, B Ranishankari Lane in Bhawanipore.

The ERO notice said Kishor's EPIC number as per the roll for Kargahar assembly constituency is IUI3123718.