DMK Flags Massive Voter Deletions in Electoral Roll Revision, Udhayanidhi Stalin Urges Vigilance

Chennai, Dec 2025 : Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday reiterated that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government had opposed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls from the very beginning, cautioning that the short time frame allotted for the exercise could result in widespread and erroneous deletions.

Addressing the media in Chennai, Udhayanidhi said the party’s apprehensions had now come true, with a sharp and unexpected rise in the number of voters removed from the rolls across the state. He pointed out that more than 97 lakh voters statewide and nearly 14 lakh voters in Chennai alone had reportedly been deleted during the revision process. Such large-scale removals, he said, raised serious concerns about the adequacy of verification procedures and the overall accuracy of the exercise.

Recalling earlier instances, Udhayanidhi noted that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had previously questioned the manner in which voters were deleted during a similar SIR exercise in Bihar. He warned that Tamil Nadu now appeared to be witnessing a comparable situation, potentially disenfranchising a significant section of the electorate.

“The magnitude of deletions is far beyond what was initially anticipated,” he said, stressing that the DMK’s opposition to the SIR was driven by fears that a hurried process would unfairly deprive eligible citizens of their voting rights. He underlined that safeguarding the democratic right to vote was paramount and could not be compromised by administrative haste.

Udhayanidhi further said that detailed instructions had already been issued during a recent meeting with DMK district secretaries to assist residents in restoring names that were wrongly removed. This included voters whose names were missed, inadvertently deleted, or struck off due to migration or technical errors. He appealed to the public to verify their voter status at the earliest and assured that corrective measures were available.

According to him, voters whose names have been excluded can apply for re-inclusion until January 18, offering a crucial opportunity to rectify mistakes before the electoral process advances further.

Earlier in the day, the Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated a newly built night shelter for homeless persons near Anna Park on Marina Beach in the Thiruvallikeni–Chepauk constituency. Constructed at a cost of ₹86.4 lakh using Greater Chennai Corporation capital funds, the shelter can accommodate up to 86 residents.

Spread over 2,500 square feet, the facility is aimed at supporting homeless individuals living along the Marina stretch who earn their livelihoods by selling balloons, handicrafts, flowers, cosmetics, and other goods. During the inauguration, beneficiaries were provided kits containing mats, pillows, and bedsheets.

The shelter is equipped with separate sanitation facilities for men and women, lockers, safe drinking water, and uninterrupted power supply. It adds to the 45 night shelters already maintained by the Chennai Corporation. Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply K.N. Nehru, along with elected representatives and senior civic officials, attended the event.