Stalin says DMK ensured voters were not removed during revision exercise

Story by ANI | Posted by Vidushi Gaur | Date 21-02-2026

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

Madurai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Saturday said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) worked diligently to prevent the removal of eligible voters from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the state.

Addressing a training conference for Booth Level Agents (BLA-2), Booth Level Committee (BLC) members and Booth Digital Agents (BDA) at Kalaignar Thidal in Madurai, Stalin claimed that while voters were deleted from electoral lists in several parts of the country during similar exercises, the DMK took proactive steps to safeguard voter inclusion in Tamil Nadu.

“The DMK worked hard to ensure that voters were not removed in Tamil Nadu,” he said, referring to concerns raised during the revision process.

Expressing optimism about the upcoming Assembly elections, Stalin highlighted the party’s performance in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, asserting that the DMK-led alliance had secured decisive victories across the state. He said the party draws strength from the legacy of leaders such as Periyar, C. N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi, and credited party cadres for sustaining grassroots engagement.

Stalin urged booth-level workers to intensify outreach efforts and connect with every household during the campaign, irrespective of political affiliation. “The people are the true masters,” he said, emphasising the need to approach voters with humility.

The Chief Minister also defended the state government’s welfare initiatives under what he termed the “Dravidian Model,” citing schemes aimed at women, children and farmers. Referring to the women’s rights assistance scheme, he alleged that there had been attempts to suspend it during the election period but said the government ensured continued financial support.

The final electoral roll following the SIR exercise is scheduled to be published on February 23.

Tamil Nadu’s 234-member Legislative Assembly is expected to go to polls in the first half of 2026. The DMK-led alliance is likely to campaign on its governance record, while the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam are expected to contest as part of the NDA alliance.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is also set to enter the fray, potentially turning the contest into a three-cornered battle.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK secured 133 seats, while its alliance partners, including the Indian National Congress, contributed to a combined tally of 159 seats under the Secular Progressive Alliance. The NDA won 75 seats, with the AIADMK emerging as the largest constituent in that bloc.