INDIA bloc leaders protested against the Special Intensive Revision and demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The campaign combines Supreme Court proceedings with political mobilisation to defend electoral integrity.
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Chennai,Oct 15, 2026 15:36 IST
Opposition parties must work together to force the Centre to roll back the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief B Manickam Tagore said on Thursday, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
Speaking at an INDIA bloc protest seeking action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the revision, Tagore said, “We need to save democracy by ensuring the rollback of SIR. This will be possible only if CEC resigns.”
Tagore stressed the need for unity within the INDIA bloc and said recent support from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's party, Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam, had strengthened the movement.
He said the coalition was fighting against the “politics of hate” and accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of acting in an “authoritarian manner”.
The alliance included a range of political parties, from those with a 140-year history to those formed just three years ago, but all remained united by the common goal of protecting democracy, Tagore said.
According to PTI, Tagore said the leaders were pursuing a “legal battle” in the Supreme Court and expected a positive outcome while continuing their political campaign.
MDMK chief Vaiko condemned the deletion of about 13.3 crore voters from electoral rolls across India. He described it as a “demolition of democracy” and a “sinister” act carried out in the name of a Special Intensive Revision.
Vaiko demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, accusing him of being “an agent” of the central government and failing to protect the integrity of the electoral process, PTI reported.
He said the issue was not isolated but part of a large and spontaneous democratic movement, with students, young people and other citizens from Kashmir to Kanyakumari protesting against what he called an “injustice”.
The INDIA bloc leaders reiterated their demand for the rollback of the electoral roll revision and the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, while saying they would continue both their legal and political campaigns.
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