VCK chief and TVK ally Thol. Thirumavalavan has alleged that the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls helped create a three-way contest in Tamil Nadu and contributed to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) coming to power in the state.
Speaking after participating in the Opposition protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, Thirumavalavan said he continues to stand by the view he expressed after the Tamil Nadu Assembly election that SIR had altered the electoral landscape in favour of TVK. His remarks come days after TVK formally participated in an I.N.D.I bloc consultation in Tamil Nadu over the SIR issue.
When Thirumavalavan was asked whether SIR was responsible for TVK forming the government in Tamil Nadu, he said, “Since this situation exists in many states, I mentioned at the time of the election results that there is a possibility of this happening in Tamil Nadu; that opinion is still being discussed.”
Elaborating on his allegation, he claimed that SIR had been used to turn what would otherwise have been a two-way contest in Tamil Nadu into a three-way contest. He said, “Democratic forces from all sides have been consistently talking about this allegation. This was discussed even before the election results. We, on behalf of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, have also emphasized this same opinion. That is, SIR has created a three-way contest . Otherwise, as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, it would have been a two-way contest. SIR has been used to create a three-way contest. That is why I have already mentioned that these election results have come about.”
His remarks effectively place the TVK government’s electoral victory within the larger political dispute over SIR. I.N.D.I. bloc parties, including VCK, have been campaigning against the exercise and demanding action against the CEC.
Thirumavalavan Targets Gyanesh Kumar
Thirumavalavan also launched a strong attack on Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the CEC had cooperated with the BJP and RSS in implementing what he described as a wider political plan.
Asked about the first protest in India directed at the Chief Election Commissioner, he said. “I believe this will evolve into a mass uprising. It is not just a specific political faction or the opposition parties that are opposing this; everyone who believes in democracy strongly condemns and warns against the Chief Election Commissioner’s complicity in the conspiracy hatched by the BJP and the RSS. They are demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. To strengthen this principled protest, Members of Parliament are currently holding a rally and a siege protest, marching from the Parliament complex to the Election Commission.”
He further alleged that the BJP and RSS were working together to neutralise opposition parties and establish what he described as a “one party, one rule” system. He said, “They are not acting merely as two individuals; the BJP and the RSS are working in tandem to implement their political agenda. Their goal is to remain in power indefinitely. They aim to neutralize opposition parties—specifically ensuring that national parties like the Congress and the Communists cease to exist here. They are formulating and executing plans to establish a “one party, one rule” system.”
He then reiterated his allegation against the CEC: “Therefore, we cannot reduce this simply to a joint conspiracy by Modi and Amit Shah. It is a conspiracy and an action plan orchestrated by the Sangh Parivar, including the RSS. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has extended full cooperation in implementing this agenda. His actions are not merely undemocratic; they are anti-national. Consequently, he must be removed from his post—an authority that rests solely with the Parliament. It is in this context that we insist on the demand for his resignation.”
Thirumavalavan also argued that the issue could not simply be attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging instead that the wider Sangh Parivar was behind the exercise.
Claims SIR Was Used To Target Opposition Voters
On the broader SIR exercise, Thirumavalavan acknowledged that the procedure itself had existed in the past but alleged that its present implementation was being used to target particular communities and opposition voters.
“No, the procedure called SIR has existed in the past. We cannot deny that. But it has not been in practice for the past few decades. Now, in the name of implementing it, they have identified vote banks against the BJP based on religion and caste and deleted them in large numbers. Thus, they have removed the votes of minority communities and Dalit people wherever the BJP could not win. They have paved the way for the BJP to win. That is how the BJP has come to power in many states. Many opposition leaders have been defeated. They have been engaged in the work of specifically targeting and planning the defeat of many opposition leaders. They have used SIR for that.”
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