Chidambaram slams ECI for abuse of powers

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sunday alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was abusing its powers through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.He stated that the poll body was attempting to “change the electoral character and patterns of states” and said such moves must be resisted both politically and legally.
Chidambaram asserted the ongoing voter revision exercise in Bihar was becoming “curiouser and curiouser”, pointing out that while 65 lakh voters in the state face the risk of disenfranchisement, reports suggest that 6.5 lakh persons are being allegedly added to the electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu. Calling this development “alarming and patently illegal”, the former Union minister said labelling migrant workers as “permanently migrated” was an insult, and constituted gross interference in the right of Tamil Nadu’s electorate to choose its government.“A person to be enrolled as a voter must have a fixed and permanent legal home. The migrant worker has such a home in Bihar (or another state). How can he/she be enrolled as a voter in Tamil Nadu?” Chidambaram asked. He argued that several migrant workers routinely return to their home state during elections, and questioned the logic behind enrolling them elsewhere as permanent residents. “Does not the migrant worker return to Bihar at the time of the Chhath Puja festival?” he further said.

The SIR exercise is getting curiouser and curiouser

While 65 lakh voters are in danger of being disenfranchised in Bihar, reports of "adding" 6.5 lakh persons as voters in Tamil Nadu is alarming and patently illegal

Calling them "permanently migrated" is an insult to the…

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) August 3, 2025

The Congress veteran cautioned that such actions by the ECI were aimed at altering the demographic balance of the electorate. “The ECI is abusing its powers and trying to change the electoral character and patterns of states. This abuse of powers must be fought politically and legally,” he asserted.Meanwhile, opposition parties have continued to raise the issue in both Houses of Parliament, alleging that the SIR exercise is intended to disenfranchise Bihar voters ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections. They have demanded an immediate discussion on the matter, calling it a threat to the sanctity of India’s democratic process.