Chennai, Sept 25:
The DMK has alleged that the Election Commission is assisting the BJP in manipulating electoral rolls, intensifying the Opposition’s criticism of the poll panel over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
The allegation comes after DMK president M.K. Stalin demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for an immediate halt to the SIR, citing reports that two Election Commissioners had raised objections to certain decisions concerning electoral rolls.
Stalin has alleged that the exercise could result in large-scale deletion of voters and questioned the manner in which decisions relating to voter registration, deletion and restoration were taken. The DMK has also questioned the reported filing of appeals against court orders concerning electoral-roll entries.
The Election Commission has maintained that decisions on SIR and other matters were taken unanimously with the approval of all three Commissioners.
The DMK’s latest allegation is likely to keep the electoral-roll issue in the political spotlight as the party steps up its campaign against the poll panel and the BJP.2.