New Delhi / Chennai, August 3, 2025 — Former Union Home Minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram has strongly criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging that the addition of 6.5 lakh “migrant workers” to the Tamil Nadu voter list is “illegal” and aimed at altering the state’s electoral dynamics.The Times of India+15ABP Live+15India Today+15The Times of India+2India Today+2India Today+2
Chidambaram, in a post on X, linked this to the mass removal of over 65 lakh voters from Bihar’s draft rolls, including around 36 lakh citizens labeled as permanently migrated or untraceable. He described the situation as increasingly concerning, warning: “This abuse of powers must be fought politically and legally.”The Times of India+9ABP Live+9India Today+9
The Congress leader questioned the logic behind classifying migrant workers as “permanently migrated,” calling it “an insult to the migrant workers” and an infringement on Tamil Nadu’s citizens’ right to choose their government. He argued that migrant workers typically return home — citing Chhath puja — and hence cannot be considered permanent residents of a host state like Tamil Nadu.India Today+8NewsDrum+8The Siasat Daily+8
🔍 Key Figures & Political Backlash
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65 lakh voters potentially disenfranchised in Bihar due to removal under SIR.Reddit+15India Today+15NewsDrum+15
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6.5 lakh additions to Tamil Nadu’s electoral roll labeled by Chidambaram as “alarming and patently illegal.”Reddit+11India Today+11The New Indian Express+11
In Tamil Nadu, regional parties have joined the chorus of concern. DMK general secretary Duraimurugan and NTK’s Seeman warned that adding thousands of Bihari guest workers as voters could shift the state’s political balance ahead of its 2026 assembly polls. Parties like VCK and TVK also demanded an all-party meeting to address the matter.The Times of India+2India Today+2The Times of India+2
🏛 Bihar SIR: Context & Controversy
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar has drawn nationwide attention:
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Over 22 lakh deceased names and 7 lakh duplicates removed from the rolls.India Today+15The New Indian Express+15The Times of India+15The Times of India
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Around 35.6 lakh voters—about 4.5% of the electorate—not found at listed addresses; 54 lakh forms remain unverified.The Economic Times
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Opposition parties, including the INDIA bloc, termed the exercise an act of “institutional arrogance,” pushing for transparency and accountability.The Times of India
The Supreme Court is scheduled to review the process amid mounting criticism over due process and investor group claims of disenfranchisement.The Times of IndiaThe Washington Post
⚖️ Chidambaram’s Legal & Political Concerns
Chidambaram has challenged the ECI’s methodology on several grounds:
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The ECI appears to be manipulating voter profiles in certain states while disenfranchising voters in others, thereby altering electoral characters across states.The Economic Times+10Business Standard+10The Week+10
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He emphasized that only a person with a fixed, permanent legal home is eligible for registration—a condition unmet by migrant workers in Tamil Nadu.NewsDrum+1India Today+1
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Chidambaram contended that the ECI’s actions must be resisted through both political channels and legal avenues.ABP Live+2NewsDrum+2The Economic Times+2
🔭 Implications for Tamil Nadu’s 2026 Elections
Tamil Nadu’s opposition leaders argue that CEI’s move undermines local voter rights and could alter voting trends in the coming election. With around 4.5 lakh Bihari guest workers in Tamil Nadu, confusion over voter registration processes has intensified, especially among migrant labourers with mixed documentation.The Times of India
The state’s Assembly elections in 2026 are shaping up as critical, with parties demanding clarity before any further roll revision occurs in Tamil Nadu.
