Sack CEC, scrap SIR, bring back ballot papers: DMK MPs to petition President

DMK MPs adopted four resolutions demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's removal, cancellation of SIR and restoration of ballot voting. The party will petition the President over alleged electoral irregularities and voter exclusion.

In Short

• DMK MPs adopt four resolutions at Chennai meeting chaired by Stalin
• Party plans memorandum seeking action on electoral irregularities
• It claims genuine voters were systematically excluded across states

The DMK on Saturday demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to ballot papers. It also accused the Congress and TVK of double standards on the revision exercise.

DMK MPs adopted four resolutions at a meeting chaired by party president MK Stalin at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai. They decided to submit a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu seeking action over alleged electoral irregularities.

The party alleged that the SIR had been rushed through in Bihar, Tamil Nadu and other states, excluding genuine voters. It accused the Election Commission of acting in a partisan manner and sought an inquiry into what it called Kumar’s unilateral decisions.

RESTORE PRE-SIR VOTER LISTS

The DMK demanded that future elections use the electoral rolls that existed before the revision. Besides replacing EVMs with ballot papers, it sought 100 per cent counting of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.

The party said it had opposed the SIR since July 2025 through all-party meetings, legal challenges and statewide protests.

It extended support to youth and student organisations protesting against the exercise, while accusing the Congress and TVK of political opportunism. It also alleged secret ties between the TVK and BJP-led Union government.

STALIN BACKS DETAINED PROTEST LEADERS

The resolutions came a day after Stalin demanded the release of Cockroach Janta Party leader Abhijeet Dipke and AISA chief Neha Bora. Delhi Police had preventively detained them ahead of Friday’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protests.

Stalin questioned their whereabouts and accused the Centre of suppressing peaceful dissent.

“Detaining them without disclosing their whereabouts is blatantly illegal and deeply inhumane. The union government must release them immediately and stop suppressing peaceful protests,” he wrote on X.

He said attempts to crush the movement would only strengthen it.

‘BREAKING BAD PARTY’ JIBE AT TVK

Stalin separately targeted the ruling TVK on Saturday over a party functionary’s arrest in a narcotics case, calling it a “Breaking Bad Party”.

He said Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials had arrested Boopalan, a Nagapattinam district functionary and election in-charge for the Kilvelur Assembly constituency. Citing initial investigations, Stalin alleged that Boopalan had concealed 135 kg of methamphetamine.

He questioned Chief Minister Vijay’s statements on eliminating drugs and demanded that investigators identify the wider network behind the seizure.

“TVK is not just a bad party, but a breaking bad party,” he wrote, apparently referring to the television series about a teacher who begins manufacturing and selling drugs.

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