DMK seeks CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal, signals third-front push

New Delhi: The DMK on Saturday demanded the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while backing the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests and stepping up its attack on the Congress, signalling its growing interest in third front.

At a meeting of DMK MPs chaired by party president MK Stalin, the party adopted four resolutions, including one seeking Kumar's removal and a probe into his "unilateral decisions". Another resolution accused the Congress and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of adopting "double standards" on SIR and "political opportunism".

The DMK also extended support to youth and student movements against alleged electoral discrepancies, explicitly backing the CJP protests against SIR and the Election Commission.


The positioning comes as the DMK explores a wider regional platform outside the Congress-led INDIA bloc. Its leaders have reached out to the CJP and other regional parties, with discussions held with the YSR Congress Party and BRS. DMK MP Kanimozhi has also met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

After the meeting, Kanimozhi said the DMK had already supported the CJP and that her participation in its protest on Friday conveyed that the party and its leadership stood with the protesters.

The DMK resolution alleged that SIR, "which was rushed through in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and several other states, systematically disenfranchised genuine voters". It accused the Election Commission of acting in a partisan manner.