ECI Calls Congress Claims "Absurd": Firmly Denies Mass Transfer of 650,000 Bihar Migrant Workers to Tamil Nadu Electoral Lists

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has vehemently rejected allegations of adding approximately 6.5 lakh migrant workers from Bihar to Tamil Nadu's electoral rolls, terming them "misleading and baseless."

This controversy erupted amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, where around 65 lakh voters—8.3% of the state's total electorate—have been flagged for potential deletion ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram sparked the row on 3 August, accusing the ECI of "abusing its powers" and attempting to "change the electoral character" of states.

In a series of posts on X, Chidambaram claimed the additions in Tamil Nadu were linked to Bihar's SIR, where voters marked as "permanently migrated" could be disenfranchised. "This is alarming and patently illegal," he stated, urging political parties and lawyers to challenge the move in court. He further questioned, "Why should migrants not return to vote?" highlighting concerns over voter suppression in opposition strongholds like Gopalganj (15.1% flagged) and Purnia (12.07%).

The ECI, in a statement on 4 August, clarified that the SIR exercise in Tamil Nadu has not yet begun, making any claims of voter additions "absurd." "Linking Bihar's revision with Tamil Nadu is misleading," the commission said, emphasizing that migrant workers retain the right to register where they reside, but no such mass inclusions have occurred.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar dismissed Rahul Gandhi's related 'vote chori' charge as unfounded, reaffirming the panel's commitment to fair elections.

DMK and its allies, including the Congress, have strongly opposed the alleged move, with DMK leaders alleging it could dilute Tamil Nadu's political landscape. "This is an attempt to register migrants from Bihar in our state, changing our domicile-based voting," said a DMK spokesperson on 2 August. Opposition figures like Congress MP Manickam Tagore pointed to "disproportionate flagging" in Bihar's opposition areas, demanding a parliamentary discussion.

The row has intensified scrutiny on electoral integrity, with experts warning of potential disenfranchisement. As of 5 August, Bihar's SIR continues, with the ECI reporting 36 lakh 'missing' voters nationwide, but no confirmed shifts to Tamil Nadu. Political analysts suggest this could impact the upcoming Bihar polls, where the NDA faces a strong INDIA bloc challenge. The ECI has urged stakeholders to verify facts before spreading misinformation, promising transparent revisions.