INDIA constituent parties stage protest against SIR in Madurai

Leaders of the constituent parties of the DMK-led INDIA staged a protest here on Tuesday against what they called the “hurriedly carried out” Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls when the Assembly election is round the corner.

Speaking on the occasion, senior DMK functionary Pon. Muthuramalingam said neither the Constitution of India nor the People’s Representation Act made a mention of the SIR. “We are not protesting against the SIR as such. But, we all are opposed only to the hurried manner in which it is being implemented for completion in one month,” Mr. Muthuramalingam said.

He expressed concern that major blunders could be done if the entire process of SIR was taken up hastily. The issue of SIR was pending before the Supreme Court, he added.

Stating that the enumeration form of the SIR was causing confusion, he said, “The column for “relative” of the voter was particularly very confusing.” The process would affect the right to vote of a lot of people who had migrated in the last two decades, Mr. Muthuramalingam, who is a member of the DMK’s highest policy making body, said.

Addressing the protesters, Madukkur S. Ramalingam said there were lots of discrepancies in implementing the SIR. “In some houses, not all the eligible family members have got the enumeration forms. In some places, only one form, instead of two, has been distributed,” he said.

Similarly, there were complaints about the booth-level officers not cooperating with the booth-level agents. “At this rate, the entire SIR could not be completed within one month. Hence, it should be postponed and taken up after the Assembly elections 2026,” Mr. Ramalingam added.

MLAs G. Thalapathi and M. Boominathan, and former DMK district secretary V. Veluchamy were among those who spoke.