CHENNAI: Even as its allies Congress, VCK and IUML have intensified their opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the ruling TVK is adopting a more cautious approach on the issue, party sources said.
The TVK has opposed the SIR exercise but has stopped short of questioning the validity of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election results or backing demands for the removal of the chief election commissioner. The party leadership is conscious of the implications of endorsing the broader allegations being made against the Election Commission, sources said.
“The party’s position is against SIR and any action that affects the voters’ list. But that does not mean we question the election results or endorse demands for fresh elections in Tamil Nadu. In fact, we had used SIR to campaign against the DMK, saying they had been winning with fake votes in Chennai. So, we are cautious in toeing the opposition’s line,” a TVK minister told TNIE.
The party’s cautious approach has also been prompted by calls from some opposition leaders for fresh elections. “Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has called for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, along with Maharashtra and West Bengal polls, to be cancelled and held afresh using ballot papers. This is something that questions the validity of our victory as well,” the minister added.
School Education Minister A Rajmohan on Monday reiterated that the party’s stand on SIR remained unchanged. “We have always been against the SIR and our party leader had explained our stand long ago. But, we would not fall prey to the diversionary tactics of removing one person in the ECI,” he told reporters in Chennai.
In recent days, Congress has held protests seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, while the VCK and Left parties have also backed demands for his removal.
The parties are part of the ruling alliance led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, which was formally named the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance earlier this month.
