Vijay’s TVK joins INDIA bloc protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
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Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, joined a massive protest march organised by the Congress-led opposition INDIA bloc in Chennai, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged serious irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
This marks the first time TVK has directly participated in a nationwide protest against the Election Commission of India since joining the INDIA bloc on October 3.
The joint protest, held under the banner of ‘Defending Democracy’, was organised on Langs Garden Road in Egmore under the leadership of Congress MP B. Manickam Tagore and the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. Representatives of seven constituent parties of the alliance took part in the demonstration. TVK leader and Tamil Nadu School Education Minister A. Rajmohan, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president and MP Thol Thirumavalavan, and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko led the protest.
Congress MP Vijay Vasanth accused the Election Commission of acting in a partisan manner to serve the interests of the BJP-led Union government and demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
“We remain firm on our demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The Election Commission is trying to protect the interests of the BJP, which is highly undemocratic. The Union government is unwilling to listen to the people’s voices. The ruling TVK in Tamil Nadu has joined us on the protest front today to lend greater strength to this people’s struggle,” he told the media.
VCK leader S.S. Balaji expressed confidence that justice and democracy would ultimately prevail. He recalled that the Centre had taken a favourable decision when the CJP staged a protest demanding the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He also said TVK’s entry into the alliance would receive formal recognition when the INDIA bloc convenes its meeting at the national level.
The Chennai protest also brought the growing differences between the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu politics into sharper focus. The DMK stayed away from the Congress-led demonstration, further highlighting the widening rift between the two parties.
The differences became more evident after the DMK leadership accused the Congress of betraying it.
Indian Union Muslim League national president Kader Moideen, CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam, CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian, and CPI(ML) Liberation state secretary Pala Asaithambi were among those who participated in the protest.