CHENNAI: In a bid to "protect electoral democracy", an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Stalin has adopted a resolution urging the ECI to conduct the SIR after 2026 assembly elections. The meeting also decided to approach the Supreme Court, if the ECI failed to halt the revision process.
Citing various practical difficulties and suspicions about the SIR, the resolution charged that the ECI, which is constitutionally obligated to act responsibly and independently, is functioning on behalf of the ruling party at the Centre.
The resolution charged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is functioning as a puppet of the BJP-led union government, and urged the agency to conduct the SIR after the 2026 Assembly polls in an impartial manner.
"Given that the case related to SIR in Bihar remains sub judice before the Supreme Court, the ECI’s decision to proceed with the SIR in Tamil Nadu as per its October 27 notification is wholly undemocratic and an assault on the voting rights of the people of Tamil Nadu," the resolution said.
Stating that the SIR is unacceptable, the all-party meeting urged the ECI to withdraw the ongoing SIR exercise immediately.
"The ECI must rectify the deficiencies in its notification, explicitly follow the guidelines of the Supreme Court, allow adequate time for the process, and conduct the SIR only after the 2026 elections - in a manner that is completely impartial and independent," the resolution said.
“Implementing the SIR in 12 states (nine states and three union territories), including Tamil Nadu, without rectifying the irregularities witnessed in Bihar, is tantamount to depriving citizens of their voting rights and burying democracy itself,” it added.
Besides, the phrase used in the notification that Aadhaar will be accepted as identification proof ‘subject to certain conditions’ has raised serious doubts since the SC had directed that the Aadhaar card may be included as a document of identity.
The resolution also said that since the ECI has refused to accept the concerns raised by the political parties, there is no alternative but to approach the SC to safeguard the voting rights of all Tamil Nadu voters. Hence, the all-party meeting has resolved that political parties in Tamil Nadu will jointly file a petition before the SC to protect electoral democracy.
49 political parties, including the alliance parties of the DMK attended this meeting convened by the DMK.
The parties which boycotted this meeting include Pattali Makkal Katchi, Tamil Maanila Congress, AMMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi, Puthiya Thamizhagam, India Jananaya Katchi, and Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi.
After the meeting, the CM, taking to X, thanked the leaders of all 49 political parties, which took part in the meeting, and appealed to the leaders of those parties which skipped the meeting to discuss SIR in their party fora and take necessary steps to safeguard democracy.
The TVK, in a statement here, while strongly opposing the SIR, citing various deficiencies said that the party chose to skip the meeting, questioning DMK’s motives and calling it a ‘belated move’.
