Will Vijay’s TVK join INDIA bloc’s protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The party will attend the Opposition INDIA bloc’s consultative meeting on Saturday
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is set to attend the INDIA bloc's consultative meeting in Delhi, where discussions will likely focus on the demand for an Election Commissioner's removal amid allegations of electoral roll irregularities. While TVK opposes these irregularities, the party maintains a distinct stance on proposed solutions, leading to political commentary. The INDIA bloc is intensifying its protest with planned marches and rallies to advocate for electoral fairness.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is set to attend the INDIA bloc's consultative meeting in Delhi, where discussions will likely focus on the demand for an Election Commissioner's removal amid allegations of electoral roll irregularities. While TVK opposes these irregularities, the party maintains a distinct stance on proposed solutions, leading to political commentary. The INDIA bloc is intensifying its protest with planned marches and rallies to advocate for electoral fairness.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is set to attend the INDIA bloc's consultative meeting in Delhi, where discussions will likely focus on the demand for an Election Commissioner's removal amid allegations of electoral roll irregularities. While TVK opposes these irregularities, the party maintains a distinct stance on proposed solutions, leading to political commentary. The INDIA bloc is intensifying its protest with planned marches and rallies to advocate for electoral fairness.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, will attend the Opposition INDIA bloc’s consultative meeting on Saturday in Delhi.
TVK leaders Aadhav Arjuna and Maria Wilson are likely to represent the party at the meeting, where the demand for Kumar’s removal is expected to be among the key issues on the agenda.
Top leaders of the INDIA bloc had met on September 30 to discuss alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and to press for Kumar’s resignation.
The controversy intensified after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and processes related to the SIR. According to the report, the two commissioners had objected to decisions that they said were taken without their knowledge or recommendation.
The report triggered a political controversy, with the Congress and other Opposition parties accusing the Election Commission of facilitating irregularities in the electoral rolls. The ECI has, however, maintained that decisions concerning the SIR were taken with the concurrence of its members.
On Wednesday, the INDIA bloc announced plans for joint ‘Save Democracy’ marches across districts and five major rallies to protest alleged irregularities in the SIR.
TVK, which is allied with the Congress in Tamil Nadu, has so far adopted a cautious position on the issue. The party’s reservations appear to stem partly from demands by some Opposition parties, including Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), for the cancellation of the 2026 Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Assembly elections and their re-conduct through ballot papers.
TVK has maintained that while it opposes the SIR, removing one Election Commissioner would not address the larger issue.
“We have always been against the SIR and our party leader had explained our stand long ago. But we would not fall prey to the diversionary tactics of removing one person in the ECI,” state Education Minister A. Rajmohan said.
The party’s relatively muted response to the SIR controversy has drawn criticism from the DMK. Former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin questioned whether TVK was reluctant to take on the BJP over the issue.
“What is your fear, CM sir, what is the fear? If you cannot open your mouth even on an issue on which all leaders across the country are speaking, what is the reason behind it. CM sir, are you afraid of the BJP so much?” Stalin asked.
TVK’s participation in Saturday’s INDIA bloc meeting could offer some indication of how far the party is prepared to align itself with the Opposition alliance’s campaign against Kumar, although attending the meeting alone does not establish that the party has endorsed all of the alliance’s demands.