NewKerala.com

DMK-Led Alliance Protests ECI's Voter Roll Revision Amid Alleged Bias

The DMK-led alliance is organizing statewide protests against the Election Commission's voter roll revision. They claim the process is politically motivated and targets specific voter groups. The alliance also highlights procedural issues and poor timing with monsoon season. They demand immediate withdrawal of the revision and a more transparent process.

Key Points: DMK Alliance to Hold Statewide Agitations Against ECI SIR

  • Alliance accuses ECI of authoritative and unilateral revision process
  • Claims SIR targets minority and anti-BJP voters for removal
  • Highlights timing conflict with northeast monsoon relief operations
  • Points to incomplete electoral rolls from 2002 and 2005 causing confusion
2 min read

DMK-led alliance to hold statewide agitations on Nov 11 against SIR

DMK-led alliance announces November 11 protests across Tamil Nadu against Election Commission's voter roll revision, citing procedural lapses and political bias.

"politically motivated and intended to remove the names of minority and anti-BJP voters from the electoral rolls - DMK-led Alliance Statement"

Chennai, Nov 8

The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) has announced statewide agitations on November 11 across all districts of Tamil Nadu to protest against the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In a joint statement issued by the alliance partners, the bloc accused the ECI of proceeding with the revision in an "authoritative and unilateral manner" despite widespread objections raised by most political parties.

The alliance claimed that the SIR exercise was "politically motivated" and "intended to remove the names of minority and anti-BJP voters from the electoral rolls".

According to the statement, the ECI's decision to implement the SIR in 12 states and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, while allegedly failing to address discrepancies in the Bihar electoral rolls, was described as" undemocratic" and aimed at "undermining" the voting rights of citizens.

The leaders argued that the "Commission's haste in conducting the revision without addressing existing confusions had eroded public confidence in the process".

The alliance also expressed concern over the timing of the enumeration phase, which coincides with the northeast monsoon in Tamil Nadu. It noted that district and local officials would already be engaged in rain-related relief and disaster management work, potentially affecting the proper conduct of the revision.

Further, the alliance pointed out several irregularities in the preparatory stages of the exercise.

It said that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in many areas had not yet begun distributing enumeration forms and had not established proper communication channels with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties.

It also highlighted that the electoral rolls of 2002 and 2005, currently available on the ECI's website, were incomplete and creating confusion among officials and political representatives.

Citing these procedural lapses and the alleged partisan intent behind the revision, the Secular Progressive Alliance demanded that the Election Commission immediately withdraw the SIR and initiate a transparent, inclusive process in consultation with all political parties before any further revision of the voters' list is carried out.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While I support electoral integrity, the EC should ensure the process is fair and consultative. Removing names without proper verification would be undemocratic. Hope they listen to the concerns raised.
S
Sarah B
As someone living in Chennai, I can confirm the monsoon timing is really bad for such exercises. Many areas get flooded and officials are genuinely busy with relief work. Practical issues matter!
A
Arjun K
The EC has always been an independent institution in India. While political parties have the right to protest, let's not jump to conclusions about motives. The process should be given a fair chance.
K
Karthik V
Electoral roll cleaning is necessary to remove duplicates and errors, but it must be done properly. If BLOs haven't even started distributing forms, how can the process be completed effectively? The concerns seem valid.
M
Michael C
Having worked on election processes before, I can say that consultation with political parties is crucial for credibility. The EC should address these procedural issues rather than rushing through.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50