Tenkasi, Oct 30: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday urged all political parties to participate in the upcoming November 2 all-party meet concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.He described the meeting as a crucial effort to safeguard democracy and protect the voting rights of the people of Tamil Nadu amid growing concerns over the exercise.
The state government and its allies have opposed the SIR, which the Election Commission of India announced would be implemented in poll-bound Tamil Nadu and several other states starting next month.
Stalin charged the ruling BJP with attempting to “snatch” the voting rights of Tamil Nadu’s citizens through this revision process. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to not sacrificing voting rights under any circumstance.
“Voting is the foundation of democracy. We will not allow attempts at vote theft or the removal of voting rights,” Stalin declared, emphasizing Tamil Nadu’s resolve to protect its electorate. Notably, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has joined Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the SIR, signaling broader regional resistance to the exercise.
Stalin called on all parties to set aside political differences and unite in this collective effort to uphold democratic principles. He stressed that the planned all-party meet is vital to decide on the future course of action and to ensure the protection of the people’s fundamental right to vote.
The meet aims to consolidate opposition towards the SIR, which critics argue could disenfranchise many voters ahead of crucial elections. Tamil Nadu’s move to convene this dialogue represents a significant challenge to the Election Commission’s proposed timeline and methodology for the electoral roll revision.