DMK Passes Resolution Demanding Removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Return to Paper Ballots

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has adopted a resolution demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an inquiry into his conduct. At a meeting of party MPs in Chennai on Saturday chaired by party president M.K. Stalin, the party alleged that the CEC oversaw the deletion of voters' names under the Special Intensive Revision, overriding the objections of the other two Election Commissioners. According to Hindustan Times, the meeting was held at 11 am at the Murasoli Maran Meeting Hall in the DMK headquarters at Anna Arivalayam.

Voting Systems And Demands

The party also called for a return to paper ballots, arguing that public faith in elections has eroded due to discrepancies between votes recorded in electronic voting machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail slips. The DMK plans to submit a representation to the President of India seeking the complete cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision before upcoming Assembly elections and a return to existing electoral rolls. The party noted that M.K. Stalin had previously raised his voice against the exercise in July 2025 after reports of voter name deletions in Bihar, and even participated in the Voter Adhikar Yatra there alongside DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.

Political Criticism

During the meeting, the DMK expressed support for protests organised by student groups and the Cockroach Janata Party. The party also accused the Congress and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam of double standards regarding the revision process. According to the DMK, the Congress was initially an onlooker and is intimidated by the impact of the protests, while refusing to discuss the revision in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The party claimed that after the Election Commission announced the revision in 12 states in October 2025, M.K. Stalin raised concerns that the BJP was trying to extend a conspiracy.

Context

The Special Intensive Revision is an administrative process conducted by the Election Commission to update electoral rolls by verifying voter details. Debates over electronic voting machines, paper audit trails, and voter list revisions frequently become major flashpoints between regional political parties and national electoral authorities in India.