New Delhi, September 3 – The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to senior Congress leader and party media chief Pawan Khera after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that he is registered as a voter in two separate constituencies in Delhi. The move has intensified the ongoing political slugfest over what the BJP has called “vote chori” by the Congress.
BJP’s Allegation
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya on Tuesday claimed that Khera’s name appears in both Jangpura and New Delhi assembly constituencies. Malviya shared two Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers—XHC1992338 and SJE0755967—allegedly belonging to Khera, and accused him of violating electoral laws by holding dual voter registrations.
“This is a blatant case of fraud. Will the Congress explain how its media chief can be a voter in two constituencies? The Election Commission must act immediately,” Malviya said in a post on X.
EC Notice and Deadline
Acting on the complaint, the District Election Officer of New Delhi issued a notice under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which bars a citizen from being enrolled in more than one constituency.
Khera has been asked to respond by 11 am on September 8 and explain why action should not be taken against him for dual registration. If proven, it could attract criminal proceedings under electoral law.
Khera’s Response
The Congress leader, however, dismissed the BJP’s charge as “baseless and politically motivated.” He clarified that he had moved from the New Delhi constituency to Jangpura in 2016 and formally applied for deletion of his name from the old constituency.
“It was the Election Commission’s failure to act on my request that has led to this duplication. I have followed due procedure. The notice itself proves that the EC is working under pressure from the ruling regime,” Khera said in a statement.
He further pointed to alleged large-scale irregularities in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura constituency, where opposition parties claimed over one lakh fake voters were registered. “Why no notices in that case?” he asked.
Political Reactions
The controversy has given the BJP fresh ammunition to target the Congress, especially after Rahul Gandhi’s recent “vote chori” remarks against the Election Commission. BJP leaders have now turned the tables, accusing the Congress of indulging in electoral malpractice while questioning the credibility of its own leaders.
Congress, meanwhile, has stood by Khera, calling the charges a diversionary tactic to deflect attention from pressing governance issues. Party insiders say the leadership will frame the episode as a case of “administrative lapse” rather than deliberate wrongdoing.
What Lies Ahead
With the deadline for Khera’s reply looming, the Election Commission’s decision will be closely watched. If the EC proceeds with legal action, the case could become a flashpoint ahead of upcoming state elections.
For now, the controversy has injected new heat into the already charged political atmosphere, with both the Congress and BJP trading allegations over the sanctity of India’s electoral rolls.
