DMK demands Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, return to pre-SIR electoral rolls

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and an inquiry into his conduct over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

At a meeting chaired by party president MK Stalin in Chennai on October 17, the party adopted four resolutions: Opposition to the SIR, support for protests against it, criticism of the Congress and the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and a demand for electoral reforms.

The DMK accused Gyanesh of overseeing the deletion of eligible voters’ names despite objections from the other two Election Commissioners. “He must be removed and subjected to an appropriate inquiry,” a resolution said.

The party also demanded that the SIR be scrapped completely and that future elections be conducted using the electoral rolls prepared before the revision. It said the exercise should protect voters’ rights rather than deprive eligible citizens of their right to vote, and called for adequate time to be provided for adding and deleting names.

The DMK said it would submit a representation to President Droupadi Murmu seeking the cancellation of the SIR and a return to paper ballots instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The party argued that alleged discrepancies between EVM counts and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips had raised questions about the credibility of the machines.

“That is why the DMK has been demanding the counting of VVPAT slips. People’s faith in elections can be restored only by returning to the paper ballot system,” the party said.

Another resolution extended support to student organisations and other groups protesting against the SIR. The party also backed the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protests demanding Gyanesh’s removal and withdrawal of the revision exercise and condemned the police action against young protesters.

The DMK also criticised the Congress, accusing it of taking different positions on the SIR depending on the state. It alleged that while the Congress opposed the exercise nationally, it had not taken a similarly strong position in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

“The Congress is intimidated by the impact of the protests. Though it remained an onlooker initially, it came under pressure to join them as they gained momentum. Those familiar with the Congress’s history know that it would backstab others after riding piggyback,” the party alleged.

The resolution also questioned the TVK’s position on the SIR, accusing the party of remaining silent on the issue. The DMK alleged that both parties had adopted double standards on a process it says threatens voters’ rights.

The meeting recalled Stalin’s opposition to the SIR in July 2025, after reports of large-scale voter deletions in Bihar, where the exercise was first conducted. It also noted his participation in the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar alongside DMK deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.

The party said its concerns grew after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced in October 2025 that the SIR would be conducted in 12 states, including Tamil Nadu. The DMK argued that the timing of the exercise in November and December would have created difficulties because it coincided with the monsoon and festive seasons.