DMK to submit memorandum to President, extends support to Anti-CEC protests

The DMK has joined the chorus for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, scrapping of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and return to ballot papers. It has also accused the TBK and the Congress of double standards on the SIR exercise. The developments came at a meeting chaired by DMK President M.K. Stalin in Chennai. The party will also submit a memorandum to President Draupadi Murmu seeking action over alleged electoral irregularities. It has also sought an inquiry into the CC's unilateral decisions. The DMK has alleged that the SIR process was rushed through in Bihar, Tamil Nadu and other states, accusing the poll panel of acting in a partisan manner. The DMK has demanded that future elections use the electoral rolls that existed before the SIR, besides replacing EVMS with ballot papers. It has sought 100% counting of voter verifiable paper audit trail or VVPAT slips. It also extended support to youth and student organizations protesting against the exercise. The DMK's endorsement of the youth protest comes as a shot in the arm for the opposition India bloc because so far the DMK had stayed away from the protests over differences with the Congress party. Its demand for Gyanesh Kumar's removal and scrapping of the SIR exercise also echoes the opposition's and the youth pressure group CJP's demands. However, it remains unclear whether the DMK will join the opposition's protest in New Delhi or in Chennai. Last week, the DMK had stayed away from the Protect Democracy march in Chennai, where all seven constituents of the TVK-led alliance have staged a protest demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and scrapping of the SIR exercise.