The Curious Case of Prashant Kishor's Double-Booked Ballot

And just like that, the seasoned political strategist, Prashant Kishor, finds himself in a bit of a pickle, one that has absolutely nothing to do with electoral battles he’s strategizing for others. No, this particular predicament is, shall we say, a touch more personal: his name—quite curiously, some might suggest—has popped up on voter lists in not one, but two different states.

You see, the Election Commission has taken notice. A notice, in fact, has been duly dispatched to Kishor for allegedly being registered as a voter both in Rohtas district, Bihar, and across the border, in Kolkata, West Bengal. It’s a definite no-no, of course, a clear violation of electoral decorum and, well, the law. The Rohtas District Magistrate-cum-District Election Officer is the one who’s sent the missive, giving the high-profile strategist a tidy seven days to explain himself. The clock, as they say, is certainly ticking.

This isn't merely an administrative hiccup, mind you; it delves into the nitty-gritty of electoral integrity. Specifically, it brings to mind Section 17 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which, simply put, says no person can be enrolled in more than one electoral roll. Then there’s Section 31, which frowns upon making any false declarations about your enrollment. Pretty straightforward stuff, honestly, or so you’d think. And for once, Kishor isn't the one dishing out the strategic advice; he's the one needing to formulate a rather crucial response.

But here’s the thing: this isn't exactly virgin territory for Kishor. One might recall similar whispers and concerns back in 2021, just ahead of the high-stakes Bengal assembly polls, where a similar issue concerning his voter registration had surfaced. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Is it a persistent oversight, or perhaps something more complex? It's a question that naturally arises when a person of his stature—a man who’s practically become synonymous with electoral calculations—faces such a fundamental query.

Prashant Kishor, after all, has been a whirlwind across India's political landscape. He began his prominent journey by collaborating closely with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and since then, his strategic fingerprints have been found on campaigns for a veritable who’s who of political leaders and parties—from the Trinamool Congress to AAP, DMK, and even, for a time, the Congress. Most recently, he's embarked on his own ambitious political venture, the 'Jan Suraaj' padyatra, or foot march, across Bihar. Now, one has to wonder, with all his sharp insights into electoral mechanics, how such an apparent oversight could occur? Or is it, perhaps, an old administrative ghost that has just refused to be laid to rest? We shall see; the explanation, when it comes, will undoubtedly be as keenly observed as any of his past political predictions.