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Summary:

The Tamil Nadu State Public (Elections) Department’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has sparked controversy due to the removal of 97.4 lakh names. Concerns have been raised about the methodology used to identify Absent/Shifted/Deceased (ASD) voters, discrepancies in door-to-door enumeration efforts, and a lack of transparency in data dissemination. While the Chief Electoral Officer claims widespread coverage, reports suggest uneven implementation and unexplained deletions. The ruling DMK party has expressed concerns about the scale of deletions, while the AIADMK supports the SIR, believing it purged bogus voters. Both parties agree that legitimate voters should be included before the final rolls are published, emphasizing the need for the Election Commission to address these concerns to ensure free and fair elections.

News Article:

Tamil Nadu Electoral Roll Revision Faces Scrutiny Over Mass Deletions

Chennai, December 24, 2025 – The Tamil Nadu State Public (Elections) Department’s recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has come under fire following the removal of a staggering 9.74 million names. The large-scale deletions have raised concerns about transparency, accuracy, and the potential disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

The controversy centers on the department’s methodology for identifying Absent/Shifted/Deceased (ASD) voters, a category that accounts for all deletions. While Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik claims the assessment was based on field inquiries, reports suggest inconsistencies in the enumeration process. Some voters report not being visited by officials despite the CEO’s claim of 100% coverage, while others discovered their names were deleted even after submitting forms.

“The claims made by the Chief Electoral Officer are too good to be true,” said a Chennai resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “My name was deleted from the rolls without any prior notice, despite living at my current address for over a decade.”

Concerns extend to the lack of transparency in data dissemination. The department initially failed to publish district-wise weekly progress of enumeration, only releasing Assembly constituency-wise data after media pressure. Gender-wise breakdowns of ASD figures remain unavailable.

The ruling DMK party, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has voiced its unease, noting deletions exceeding 10% in numerous Assembly constituencies. Stalin pointed out specific instances where recently enrolled voters were inexplicably removed.

While the AIADMK supports the SIR, claiming it eliminated bogus voters, both Dravidian majors agree that no genuine voter should be excluded.

“Inclusions can still be made up to January 18,” emphasized a joint statement from the parties. “It is crucial that the Election Commission addresses these concerns to ensure a conducive environment for free and fair elections next year.”

The Election Commission has yet to respond to the growing criticism. Observers say that a thorough investigation and greater transparency are needed to restore public trust in the electoral process before the final rolls are published.

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