Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay voiced strong opposition to the Election Commission of India’s proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu and other states, claiming it undermines the fundamental democratic rights of citizens.
In a comprehensive statement, Vijay noted that a similar exercise in Bihar resulted in the deletion of numerous voter names, which led opposition parties to assert that “religious minorities and certain sections of society were deliberately targeted.” He pointed out that the issue is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court and questioned the rationale for commencing a second phase of revision without clarifying the outcomes of the first phase.
Vijay expressed concerns about the practicality of the revision process in Tamil Nadu, which has approximately 6.36 crore voters, questioning how such an extensive verification could be completed within a mere 30 days. He warned that, similar to Bihar, minority and marginalized communities may face challenges during this revision.
He urged the Election Commission to uphold existing correction procedures rather than pursuing what he labeled a “confusing and unnecessary special revision.” Furthermore, Vijay accused the ruling DMK of attempting to leverage these revisions for electoral gain and called on opposition parties to set aside their political differences in defense of democratic rights.
Highlighting a resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly opposing the SIR, Vijay asked why the DMK government, which claims to be against the revision, has not introduced a similar resolution in Tamil Nadu. He also accused the DMK of hypocrisy, noting that they remained silent when his party initially raised concerns but now positions itself as the protector of democracy.
Reaffirming TVK’s commitment, Vijay stated that the party would continue to resist any actions by the BJP-led Union government or anyone else that threatens democracy and the rights of citizens. TVK announced plans to conduct awareness meetings and state-wide campaigns to inform the public about the implications of the electoral roll revision, with its officials at all levels instructed to vigilantly monitor the process to protect voters’ rights.
This statement follows the Election Commission of India’s announcement regarding the second phase of SIR, which will affect 12 states and Union Territories, encompassing several southern and northern regions.
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