NewKerala.com

Tamil Nadu's Voter Roll Crisis: Karti Chidambaram Reveals Implementation Failures

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has raised serious concerns about the Special Intensive Revision process in Tamil Nadu. He revealed that inadequate manpower and frequent internet disconnections are hampering operations significantly. The issues include Booth Level Officers lacking proper guidance and training for the complex process. These problems emerge amid opposition allegations that the SIR exercise targets underprivileged voters across multiple states.

Key Points: Karti Chidambaram Flags Tamil Nadu SIR Electoral Roll Issues

  • Congress MP highlights inadequate staffing causing voter roll confusion
  • Frequent internet server disconnections disrupting electoral operations
  • Booth Level Officers lack clear guidance and proper training
  • Opposition parties allege SIR targets underprivileged voter communities
3 min read

Inadequate manpower, lack of guidance: Karti Chidambaram flags issues in SIR implementation in TN

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram exposes inadequate manpower and internet disruptions affecting Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Tamil Nadu amid nationwide rollout.

"Significant confusion persists due to inadequate manpower. Frequent internet server disconnections are disrupting operations. - Karti Chidambaram"

New Delhi, November 15

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Friday highlighted the issues faced during the implementation of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu.

Based on feedback from Congress party workers in Tamil Nadu, Karti Chidambaram listed the issues like "inadequate manpower, lack of guidance, and internet disconnections."

"Significant confusion persists due to inadequate manpower. Frequent internet server disconnections are disrupting operations. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and other personnel lack clear guidance or understanding. Overall, the process is proving very difficult to manage effectively," he said in a post on X.

https://x.com/KartiPC/status/1989605818002804856?s=20

Currently, a nationwide SIR is being carried out in 12 states and union territories, with the final elector's list to be published on February 7, 2026.

These states and UTs are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

According to the Election Commission, printing and training took place from October 28 to November 3, followed by an Enumeration Phase from November 4 to December 4.

The draft electoral rolls will be published on December 9, followed by a claims and objections period from December 9 to January 8, 2026. The Notice Phase (for hearing and verification) will take place between December 9 and January 31, 2026, with publication of Final Electoral Rolls on February 7, 2026.

The opposition has strongly opposed the SIR process, alleging that it is aimed at striking the names of voters from underprivileged communities off the voter lists.

Earlier, TMC accused the Election Commission of "favouring" Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by amending the rules for appointment of Booth-Level Agents (BLAs), amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal.

In a press conference, TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee flagged that ECI has issued the new circular to "accommodate" the BJP workers.

"The way the BJP does the election, they bring hooligans. This has been indulged by the Election Commission. EC is totally biased. What they are doing is in favour of the BJP," he said.

The allegations came after ECI issued a circular modifying the appointment criteria of BLAs. Earlier, the BLA had to belong to the same part of the electoral roll.

According to the circular released by EC, "In case of unavailability of Booth Level Agent (BLA) from the same Part of the electoral roll, Booth Level Agent may be appointed from any registered elector of the same Assembly Constituency."

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone from Chennai, I've seen firsthand how these technical issues affect voter registration. Many elderly people in my area are struggling to get their names included. The process should be made more accessible for everyone.
M
Michael C
While I appreciate Karti raising these concerns, I wish there was more constructive criticism rather than just pointing out problems. All political parties should work together to ensure smooth electoral processes instead of blaming each other.
S
Shreya B
Internet connectivity issues in rural Tamil Nadu are a real problem! My cousin works as a BLO in Madurai district and he has to travel 15km just to get stable internet. How can we expect accurate voter lists with such infrastructure gaps? 🤔
A
Aman W
The timing of this SIR exercise seems suspicious. Why only these 12 states? And the rule change about BLAs from different parts of constituency raises questions. We need transparency in electoral processes to maintain trust in our democracy.
N
Nisha Z
Proper training for BLOs is essential. Many of them are temporary staff who don't understand the importance of their role. EC should conduct better workshops and provide clear manuals in local languages. Jai Hind! 🙏

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50