The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is planning to meet President Droupadi Murmu to raise its objections to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, following a meeting of the party's Members of Parliament chaired by party president MK Stalin in Chennai on Saturday.
The party is expected to submit a representation seeking the withdrawal of the SIR exercise, amid growing opposition protests over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and concerns about voters losing their voting rights.
The decision comes as opposition parties intensify their campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding accountability over the revision process.
DMK reiterates opposition to SIR
The meeting was held at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK's headquarters in Chennai, where party MPs discussed the SIR exercise and other electoral issues. The party adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the revision process and the use of electoral rolls prepared before the exercise for elections.
The DMK also reiterated its demand for elections to be conducted using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs), arguing that the move would help restore public confidence in electoral outcomes.
The party has maintained that electoral roll corrections should protect eligible voters' rights rather than result in the exclusion of legitimate voters.
Opposition protests intensify
The proposed meeting with the President comes amid protests by opposition parties and student organisations against the SIR exercise. Several opposition leaders have accused the Election Commission of facilitating irregularities in electoral rolls, allegations that remain contested.
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi recently criticised the Union government over the revision process, alleging that voters were being deprived of their rights. She also raised concerns about reported deletions in Tamil Nadu and called for the reinstatement of eligible voters whose names had been removed.
The DMK has also expressed support for youth-led protests against the SIR and demanded accountability from the Election Commission over the concerns raised by demonstrators.
The party's planned representation to President Murmu is expected to place its objections to the revision exercise before the constitutional head of state as the political dispute over electoral rolls continues.