The DMK, its allies, and the Seeman led Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) are up in arms against the inclusion of guest workers (North Indian migrants) in Tamil Nadu’s electoral rolls. Just a week ago, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK supremo M. K. Stalin, who had strongly opposed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, has now said, “If you (BJP) cannot defeat us, you seek to delete us. Don’t play with fire. Any threat to our democracy will be met with firm resistance.”
However, when it comes to their own state, the same parties, DMK, its allies, and NTK are opposing the inclusion of North Indian migrant labourers in Tamil Nadu’s voters’ list. This reflects a clear double standard on the same issue.
DMK general secretary and senior minister in the state Cabinet told the media in Vellore on August 2, “This is a problem in Tamil Nadu as they (North Indians) have come here as guest workers. But issuing them voter IDs in Tamil Nadu will pose political challenges in the future.”
VCK founder and Chidambaram Lok Sabha MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, whose party is an ally of the DMK, has urged Chief Minister Stalin to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the matter. Speaking to the media in Villupuram, he said, “The ECI is carrying out the SIR in Bihar where Dalits and minorities are being targeted for elimination from the rolls. Tamil Nadu, which faces Assembly elections next year, will soon undergo the SIR like West Bengal. There is a possibility that lakhs of guest workers from other states will be added to the voters’ list.” He added, “This will change the entire political dynamics in Tamil Nadu. I urge CM Stalin to take a decision on the issue at the earliest.”
NTK chief Seeman, in a statement, said, “If the SIR is carried out in Tamil Nadu, I will organise protests to oppose it.” He further stated, “Trying to convert people from the North into Tamil Nadu voters is a great injustice to the Tamil people. All democratic forces must unite to wage war against the BJP for this tyranny and for using the ECI as a puppet to subvert democracy in states it cannot rule.”
Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) founder and staunch LTTE supporter and MLA T. Velmurugan said, “It is shocking that 6.5 lakh guest workers from Bihar have already been added to Tamil Nadu’s voters’ list. There are lakhs of guest workers in Tamil Nadu, and this is a threat to the culture and tradition of this land. Tamil Nadu people never vote on religious lines, but the BJP has drawn up a plan to include these guest workers in the electoral rolls to form a government here.”
On 25th July, M. K. Stalin, posting on his social media platform X, said, “The Special Intensive Revision (#SIR) is being misused to quietly erase voters from disadvantaged and dissenting communities, tilting the balance in favour of the BJP. This is not about reform, it is about engineering outcomes. What happened in Bihar says it all: the Delhi regime knows the same electorate that once voted for it will now vote it out. That is why it is trying to stop them from voting altogether. If you cannot defeat us, you seek to delete us. Don’t play with fire. Any threat to our democracy will be met with firm resistance.
The Special Intensive Revision (#SIR) is being misused to quietly erase voters from disadvantaged and dissenting communities, tilting the balance in favour of the BJP. This is not about reform. It is about engineering outcomes.
What happened in Bihar says it all: the Delhi… pic.twitter.com/RwzeTh1h93
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) July 25, 2025
On Friday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) urged Tamil Nadu’s Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik to immediately convene an all-party meeting before proceeding with the SIR of the electoral rolls.
Critics, however, argue, “Indian citizens have the right to reside and settle in any part of India. This is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 19(1)(e) of the Indian Constitution, allowing citizens to move freely and choose their place of residence and settlement within the country.” Accordingly, they argue, names of guest workers, who are already living and working in Tamil Nadu, cannot be excluded from the electoral roll.
The SIR in Bihar was aimed at weeding out duplicate entries across multiple states. However, the DMK, its allies, and NTK have displayed clear animosity towards North Indians, especially Biharis. These parties have no hesitation in accommodating Rohingyas, Bangladeshi Muslims (considered minorities), and Sri Lankan Tamils. In fact, the DMK, West Bengal, and Kerala governments have helped such groups obtain Aadhar cards, ration cards, and other forms of identity through backchannels. These migrants, however, are not seen as posing a political challenge or altering the political landscape.
On one hand, these parties seek to protect their minority vote banks; on the other, they oppose North Indians. They shed crocodile tears for dalits, while in practice, caste-based discrimination against Dalits continues, as reported widely in the media. Their opposition to the SIR reveals whose votes they are truly relying on. Their stance on this issue is contradictory.
There have also been instances of DMK ministers and leaders of its allies spewing venom against migrant workers, mocking them for chewing pan, calling them illiterate, and accusing them of being unhygienic.
