Probe Age Discrepancy of Lalu Prasad's Sons, BJP Urges Election Commission

Patna, Bihar: The age discrepancy in the affidavits of two sons of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad has now reached the doors of the Election Commission, with BJP urging the election watchdog to probe the issue. According to the voter list, the younger son, Tejaswi Yadav, has been mentioned as being one year older than his elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav.

Mr Prasad appeared unperturbed, and said what was mentioned in the voter card was final.

"They have mentioned their age in the affidavit as it is given in their voter identity card...age in voter card is final...If age is written as 80 on the voter ID it will be final and has to be mentioned in the nomination papers," the RJD chief told reporters.

Taking a dig at the BJP, he said, "They are making unnecessary controversy about the issue."

The affidavit filed by Tejaswi, who is contesting from the Raghopur assembly seat in Vaishali district, shows his age as 26 years, while the elder son has filed his nomination from Mahua assembly seat mentioned his age as 25 years as per the state voter list.

"One has to enter the age as is written in voter ID. There might be a printing error in the voter ID," he said and asked, "What's so big about it?" said Tejaswi Yadav.

BJP state President Mangal Pandey urged the Election Commission to take cognisance of the matter and probe the nomination papers submitted by Tejaswi.

"I am sure Tejaswi has studied above standard IX. Had standard X been mentioned in the nomination, the board certificate would have revealed his true age," Mr Pandey alleged.

BJP General Secretary, Bhupendra Yadav took a dig at RJD chief. "When he cannot keep his house in order, how will he take care of the state?" he said.

Lok Janshakti Party Parliamentary Board chief and lawmaker, Chirag Paswan said, "The jungle raj during RJD was so pervading that they registered their age according to their own free will."