A row has broken out in Kerry between Fianna Fáil and the Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae over the electoral register.
He claimed that Fianna Fáil party activists tried to remove some 37 names from the register of electors in his native Kilgarvan base.
All of those earmarked for removal were "alive and kicking" and one was the wife of a county council worker, Mr Healy-Rae's son Danny, a councillor, said.
The claims form was signed by the Fianna Fáil mayor of Kerry, Ted Fitzgerald, who is based in Tralee, outside the Kerry South constituency.
However, Cllr Fitzgerald has explained his role was simply procedural.
Strong criticism has come from the Healy-Rae family who say the move was politically motivated, not by Cllr Fitzgerald, but by local Fianna Fáil activists in Kerry South.
"The activists want to narrow the gap between my father and Tom Fleming (Kerry South Fianna Fáil candidate)," Cllr Danny Healy-Rae said yesterday.
Under legislation, claims forms adding, deleting and amending the register must be signed by a public representative. The claims are checked by local enumerators and a final decision rests with the county registrar at a public claims or revisions court.
Cllr Healy-Rae attended the register of electors revision court in Kenmare on Monday last to ensure the names were not removed. The removal attempt was not pursued by Fianna Fáil, it is understood, and the names have remained on the list.
A small number of known Fine Gael supporters also had their names listed for removal in the Fianna Fáil claim form, he added.
"I'm damned lucky to be on the register myself," Cllr Healy-Rae said.
Jackie Healy-Rae said if he or his supporters had attempted such a move in Scartaglen, the base of Cllr Tom Fleming, there would be an outcry.
"I am appalled. I never thought in all my life that anyone would try to deprive me of 30 votes in this way," Mr Healy-Rae said yesterday.