In Chennai, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, met representatives from various political parties on Thursday as part of preparations for the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu. During the discussions, numerous political parties acknowledged the Election Commission of India’s efforts for the orderly and peaceful conduct of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state.
Calls for Improved Electoral Management
The participating political entities expressed a collective desire for the upcoming elections to be held in a single phase, suggesting that this approach would enhance management and transparency. Attendees included several national parties, such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Indian National Congress (INC), and the National People’s Party (NPP).
State-level parties present at the meeting included the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK), and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
Concerns Over Electoral Integrity
During the meeting, political parties urged the Election Commission to implement stringent measures aimed at curbing the influence of money and the distribution of freebies in the electoral process. Some representatives called for an increase in the number of flying squads to combat malpractices associated with the elections. Attention was also drawn to the necessity of scheduling elections with consideration for major festival dates.
Response from the Election Commission
In response to the concerns raised, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar assured participants that the scheduling would indeed take festival dates into account. He reiterated the commitment of the Election Commission to conduct elections in Tamil Nadu in a manner that is free, fair, and transparent. Kumar emphasized the Commission’s stance on strictly monitoring activities related to inducements during the electoral process.
Electoral Roll Updates and Statistics
Earlier, the Election Commission released the final electoral rolls for Tamil Nadu following the conclusion of the Special Intensive Revision. As per the announcement, the state now has a total electorate of 5,67,07,380, which includes 2,77,38,925 male voters, 2,89,60,838 female voters, and 7,617 voters identifying as third gender. Among these are 12.51 lakh voters aged 18 to 19 years, 4.63 lakh voters with disabilities, and 3.99 lakh senior citizens aged 85 and above.
Completion of the Revision Process
The electoral roll revision was executed in Tamil Nadu from October 27, 2025, to February 23, 2026, with January 1 as the qualifying date. Initially, there were 6,41,14,587 registered voters as of October 27. Following the enumeration phase, a draft electoral roll was published on December 19, 2025, which listed 5,43,76,756 electors. Throughout the claims and objections period from December 19, 2025, to January 30, 2026, 27.53 lakh eligible electors were added to the roll, while 4.23 lakh ineligible names were removed.
Finalization of the Electoral Roll
Following the resolution of claims and objections, the Final Electoral Roll for 2026 was published on February 23, 2026. This updated roll included eligible electors after processing the claims and objections related to inclusions, deletions, and corrections during the designated timeframe.