Tamil Nadu to Launch Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday that it will initiate the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu within the next week. This decision comes as the state prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for April-May 2026.

During a session in the Madras High Court, Niranjan Rajagopalan, legal counsel for the ECI, stated that the SIR would commence in “a week or so.” He assured the court that the ECI would adhere to all directives issued by the Supreme Court regarding the SIR process, particularly in light of a related case in Bihar.

Political Context and Concerns

The ruling party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), has been actively encouraging citizens to remain vigilant during this revision process. The DMK is part of the opposition coalition I.N.D.I.A. and has previously voiced concerns over the credibility of the ECI’s operations, particularly in Bihar.

DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin participated in protests against SIR in Bihar, alongside leaders such as Rahul Gandhi of the Congress and Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). They labeled the SIR exercise as “exclusionary,” raising questions about its transparency and fairness.

Details on the Revision Process

The ECI’s lawyer informed the court that consultations have already taken place between the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners concerning the SIR in Tamil Nadu and other states. This information was presented during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former AIADMK MLA B Sathyanarayanan, who is advocating for a thorough and transparent re-verification of electoral rolls in his T. Nagar constituency.

Sathyanarayanan narrowly lost the 2021 elections to DMK candidate J Karunanithi by just 137 votes. In his petition, he emphasized the significance of this slim margin, stating that it highlights irregularities that may have materially influenced the election outcome. “The extremely narrow margin of 137 votes, compared with thousands of wrongful deletions/inclusions, clearly establishes the irregularities,” he asserted.

Sources reveal that the Chief Electoral Officer in Tamil Nadu is currently engaging in discussions with district officials to prepare for the SIR exercise. With elections approaching in six months, it is crucial that the revision process is initiated by November and completed by January to ensure adequate preparation for the polls.

The upcoming electoral revision aims to enhance the integrity of the electoral process in Tamil Nadu, reflecting the broader challenges and considerations facing the ECI as it navigates the complex political landscape ahead of the 2026 elections.