DMK demands removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; return to paper ballots

A meeting of DMK MPs on Saturday (October 17, 2026) demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that he had overseen the deletion of voters’ names under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), overriding the objections of the other two Election Commissioners.

“He must be removed and subjected to an appropriate inquiry,” said a resolution adopted at the meeting chaired by DMK president M.K. Stalin.

The DMK also made a case for a return to paper ballots, arguing that the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs) had come under scrutiny because of alleged discrepancies between votes recorded in EVMs and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.

“That is why the DMK has been demanding the counting of VVPAT slips. People’s faith in elections can be restored only by returning to the paper ballot system,” the party said.

The meeting expressed concern over the functioning of the Election Commission of India, stating that public confidence in elections was eroding because of what it termed the Commission’s failure to function impartially.

Representation to President

The party decided to submit a representation to the President seeking the complete cancellation of the SIR before the Assembly elections. It also demanded that future elections be conducted on the basis of the existing electoral rolls.

“The SIR should ensure voters’ rights and not deprive them of their right to vote. Adequate time should be provided for the addition and deletion of names,” the party said.

The DMK also expressed support for protests organised by a students’ organisation and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), claiming that the protests had made a greater impact than those organised by the Congress.

DMK terms Congress ‘backstabbers’

“The Congress is intimidated by the impact of the protests. Though it remained an onlooker initially, it came under pressure to join them as they gained momentum. Those familiar with the Congress’s history know that it would backstab others after riding piggyback. The party is not ready for a discussion on the SIR in Tamil Nadu and Kerala,” the DMK alleged.