DMK leader Elangovan accuses BJP of attempting to create 'fraudulent' voters list

Senior DMK leader T K S Elangovan on Thursday accused the BJP of attempting to create a "fraudulent voters list" through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

His remarks came amid a political row over the SIR exercise and reports of objections raised by Election Commissioners over certain decisions of the poll panel. The Election Commission has clarified that notices issued to voters over discrepancies do not by themselves mean deletion from the electoral rolls.

Elangovan expressed surprise over notices being issued under the SIR exercise to prominent personalities, including former vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar, BJP veteran L K Advani and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"They have sent notices to the former Vice President of this country (Jagdeep Dhankhar), former Home Minister L K Advani, and former Chief Minister of Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal). I don't understand what they are doing. This is done intentionally: they want to create a fraudulent voters list," he alleged.

Questioning the competence of the poll body, Elangovan said issuing notices to senior public figures reflected a lack of awareness about the country's leadership.

"If you don't know who the former Vice President is, then you are not fit to lead the Election Commission," he said.

Reiterating DMK president M K Stalin's demand for Kumar's removal, Elangovan accused the CEC of favouring the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Elangovan also backed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray's reported demand for fresh elections in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, saying elections could not have been conducted "properly, democratically" under the current CEC.

He also agreed with recent observations attributed to a Supreme Court judge on the appointment of the CEC, criticising the replacement of the Chief Justice with a Union minister on the selection panel as an "unjudicial process".

On state issues, Elangovan dismissed recent inspections of the Tamil Nadu Public Distribution System as "all show" and questioned what action had been taken over damaged rice stocks and the empowerment of staff.

Referring to Chief Minister M K Stalin's inspection of the TNEB headquarters on September 23, Elangovan said employees were protesting outside over staff shortages.

"What action he had taken? Will there be no power cut tomorrow? Let us see," he said.

Elangovan also alleged political interference in the administration of the Meenakshi Amman temple, describing attempts to remove individuals connected to the P T Rajan family as "cheap third-rate" moves aimed at satisfying "BJP bosses".