BJP, AIADMK’s calculation is to delete voters’ names through SIR: Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin, on Sunday (October 26, 2025), alleged it was the calculation of the BJP and AIADMK to win the State Assembly election next year by removing voters among the working class, Scheduled Castes, minorities and women through the [Election Commission of India’s] Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

“The AIADMK and the BJP do not have the strength to meet the people during elections and are calculating to deprive them of their votes. In Tamil Nadu, their calculation will prove to be a wrong one,” Mr. Stalin said in a statement.

He said the DMK and the constituents of the INDIA bloc had been warning that the BJP, with the help of the Election Commission of India (ECI), had deleted the names of 65 lakh voters in Bihar and had similar plans for Tamil Nadu.

“The DMK has already made a representation to the Election Commission to give up the SIR and has sought adequate time if there is a need to revise the voters’ list. The DMK will pursue legal means and join hands with the people if the Election Commission decides to go ahead with the SIR,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the DMK had already conducted a public outreach campaign, ‘Tamil Nadu under One Camp’ (Oraniyil Tamil Nadu), explaining to the people how the welfare schemes of the DMK government had benefited everyone. “Though the BJP government (at the Centre) has betrayed Tamil Nadu by refusing funds, the DMK government has implemented welfare schemes. We (DMK) have enrolled two crore members, but our duty is not yet over,” he said.

Mr. Stalin called upon party members to closely monitor the proposed SIR, which he charged was aimed at deleting voters’ names, since the AIADMK, “having pledged its rights to the BJP”, has no time to bother about the rights of the people. “The DMK and its allies have the responsibility to protect voters’ rights,” he said.