EC investigates dual voter ID allegations involving Koel Majumdar

The Election Commission (EC) has started an investigation into a complaint alleging that the wife of the president of West Bengal BJP and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar possesses two voter identity cards, a senior official said on Friday.

The initial probe found that the minister’s wife, Koel Majumdar, holds two voter ID cards with different EPIC numbers — one registered in Balurghat and another in Jalpaiguri.

While one card was issued under her maiden name, Koel Chowdhury, the second was created after her marriage under the name Koel Majumdar.

"This could have been avoided had she submitted Form 18. It is the responsibility of the cardholder to notify the EC of any changes. In this particular case, the commission was actually not informed," the official stated.

He further explained that a new voter card was issued in Balurghat after she submitted the Form 6.

"Because the EPIC numbers and surnames were different, the error was not immediately detected. We are now verifying the photographs and other personal details to confirm the identity," he added.

The state's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, has asked the district magistrates of Jalpaiguri and South Dinajpur to file a report on the matter as quickly as possible, EC sources said.