Stalin Urges DMK Cadres To Scrutinize Electoral Roll Deletions Under Special Revision

Major Drop in Voter Names

Nearly 9.7 million names might be dropped from Tamil Nadu’s electoral rolls. This follows data released by the Election Commission on Friday. The draft rolls show the highest percentage of potential deletions among major states. This move is part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Stalin’s Strong Directive

Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin addressed district secretaries on Sunday. The meeting discussed the party’s official response to the draft electoral rolls. Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu will never fear an “invasion from Delhi.” He directed party members to verify the categories of the removed voters. The draft rolls were published just months before the 2026 assembly elections. As of October 27, Tamil Nadu had 64.1 million electors. Around 15.2 percent, or 9.7 million, could face deletion.

Concerns Over Irregularities

Stalin highlighted his earlier concerns about the revision. “When SIR work was started in a hurry, we warned in advance that this would lead to various irregularities. Eligible voters in Tamil Nadu could be excluded,” he stated. He praised party workers serving as booth level agents (BLAs). They worked tirelessly during the enumeration period. “The AIADMK and BJP did not even come to the field. They did not even raise their voices. That is why we should be suspicious. Therefore, we should carefully see if our voters are among the 97 lakh voters who have been removed.”

Alleging Political Conspiracy

The DMK has protested against the SIR both on the ground and in the Supreme Court. They allege the SIR is a BJP conspiracy to aid its ally, the AIADMK. This is reportedly ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. “Fascist forces and enemies who cannot defeat us honestly and in a straightforward manner will try to achieve their goals through roundabout means. We must not let that happen,” Stalin warned. He noted the scale of the issue. “More than 10 percent of voters have been excluded in 168 constituencies. We need to look at this on a polling station-by-station basis.”

Micro-Level Verification is Crucial

Lists of the deleted voters will be sent to district secretaries by Monday. This includes details of all registered Tamil Nadu voters. “The details should be checked thoroughly and no omissions made,” Stalin insisted. “Our next task is to check whether they are dead, have moved, or have double entries. Even if only one person has been omitted by mistake, we need to fill out Form 6 and add them back to the voter list.” He stressed the seriousness of the task. “If I am looking at this on such a micro level, you can understand how seriously this should be taken. It is the responsibility of every district secretary and block observer to examine it carefully and correct it.” He urged vigilance against distraction attempts by opposition parties. He remains confident the coalition will win.

Opposition’s Stance

Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (AIADMK), defended the deletions. He claimed they indicated duplicate entries. This justified his party’s support for the SIR. The state BJP unit urged its members to assist genuine voters. They want to ensure proper enrollment during the claims period.