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Chennai hit hardest in India's voter roll purge

Chennai has seen the steepest cuts in the Election Commission's ongoing voter list revision, with over one-third of its electorate removed in the draft rolls released on Dec. 19, 2025.

Why it matters: The city's 16 assembly constituencies are key battlegrounds for the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections. Large-scale deletions could reshape turnout and outcomes in this urban stronghold of the ruling DMK.

By the numbers:
  • Pre-revision (Oct. 27, 2025): 40.05 lakh voters
  • Post-draft revision: 25.80 lakh voters
  • Deletions: 14.25 lakh (35.6% drop) — the highest proportionate cut in Tamil Nadu
Breakdown of deletions in Chennai:
  • Permanently shifted/migrated: ~12.22 lakh
  • Deceased: ~1.56 lakh
  • Untraceable/absent: ~27,300
  • Duplicates: ~18,800
Go deeper:
  • Hardest-hit constituencies: Anna Nagar (42.2% drop), T. Nagar (40.8%), Thousand Lights (40.7%), Villivakkam (40.6%), Velachery (40.2%)
  • Officials attribute high migration to Chennai's rapid urbanization, commercialization of residential areas, and resettlement projects (e.g., shifts to Perumbakkam).
  • Critics, including DMK leaders, allege disproportionate impact on migrant workers, daily wagers, and marginalized communities, potentially skewing urban votes.
What they're saying:
  • ECI and Tamil Nadu CEO Archana Patnaik: Routine cleanup for accuracy; genuine voters can reclaim names.
  • Opposition (DMK, Congress): "Targeted disenfranchisement" in anti-BJP areas.
  • BJP leaders: Reveals past "fake votes" that helped DMK dominate Chennai.
What happens next:
  • Claims/objections window: Open until Jan. 18, 2026 — submit Form 6 online/offline for inclusion.
  • Special camps: Dec. 20-21 across Chennai for assistance.
  • Final rolls: Feb. 17, 2026.
The bottom line: While migration explains much of Chennai's churn, the unprecedented scale has amplified distrust ahead of polls. Urban voters must act fast to restore names — or risk sitting out the election.

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