Chennai, October 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Saturday demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the immediate release of political leaders and activists detained during protests.
In a strongly worded post on X, Stalin accused the BJP-led Union government of suppressing dissent and described the situation as an “undeclared Emergency”. He alleged that those defending democracy were being imprisoned, while those undermining it were receiving protection from the government.
Stalin said former Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and Manik Sarkar, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby, and leaders of various student organisations had been detained while campaigning to protect people’s voting rights.
Contrasting their treatment with the security arrangements for Kumar, Stalin questioned why the Chief Election Commissioner continued to receive Z-plus protection. He also alleged that Kumar was facing proceedings related to sedition, although he did not provide details of the alleged case in his post.
The DMK leader asserted that the alleged political motives behind the SIR exercise had been exposed and could no longer be concealed. He accused the authorities of imposing restrictions to prevent opposition parties and young people from raising their concerns.
Stalin said barricades and internet shutdowns in Delhi would not silence the protests. He questioned how long the Union government could keep the entire country under siege.
His criticism also targeted the TVK government in Tamil Nadu, which he accused of attempting to please its “masters in Delhi” by acting against those protesting the electoral roll revision.
Stalin alleged that CPI(M) state secretary Shanmugam and other party workers had been detained for opposing SIR and demanding Kumar’s resignation. He described the state government’s actions as an attempt to demonstrate its loyalty to the Union government.
Calling for the immediate release of everyone detained, Stalin reiterated his demands for Kumar’s removal and the abandonment of the electoral roll revision exercise. He also sought accountability from those he accused of betraying the people and compromising their democratic rights.
Linking the detentions in Delhi and Tamil Nadu to wider concerns over electoral rights, Stalin presented the protests as a campaign to defend democracy. His key demands were the release of detainees, withdrawal of SIR and action against those he accused of suppressing dissent.
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