DMK Challenges ECI's Special Intensive Revision, Cites Credibility Issues

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has voiced strong concerns over the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to implement a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across twelve states. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai criticized the election body's credibility, suggesting it is at an unprecedented low. Annadurai expressed dissatisfaction with the unresolved issues from SIR's first phase in Bihar and questioned the application of those findings to other regions.

Highlighting concerns, Annadurai questioned why Assam was excluded from the exercise, alleging the ECI's role as akin to a 'citizenship-finding unit' by introducing citizenship criteria in the revision process. He accused the ECI of colluding with political entities like the BJP and engaging in 'vote theft' while pointing out gaps in the methodology adopted during Bihar's SIR. The DMK spokesperson demanded clarity on how many illegal immigrants were identified and criticized the omission of significant documents previously used for voter verification, such as Ration Cards and MGNREGA cards.

According to Annadurai, 65 lakh voters were disenfranchised due to the ECI's refusal to accept certain documents during Bihar's SIR. With several unresolved questions, including the choice of a 2003 cut-off year and the inconsistency in documentation acceptance, the DMK insists on transparency. As the ECI gears up for the second phase of SIR in several states, its intention and processes remain under scrutiny. The SIR spans from its second phase start to final electoral roll publication by February 2026, as detailed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.