Chennai, Oct 16 VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Friday demanded the immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Election Commission has been functioning to implement the agenda of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.
Speaking to reporters here, Thirumavalavan asserted that the CEC stepping down is the only way to restore peace and uphold law and order amid nationwide unrest over the EC’s conduct and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
“It has come to light that the Election Commission, particularly Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, has functioned to execute the agenda of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, causing nationwide turmoil over the past few months,” the Chidambaram Lok Sabha MP said.
“His (Gyanesh Kumar) resignation is the only way to establish peace nationally and protect law and order,” he added.
When asked about the Centre’s reported plans to table the Delimitation Bill in the upcoming Parliament session, Thirumavalavan took a firm stance: “The INDIA bloc will definitely oppose it if they bring the Bill.”
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the VCK chief alleged that the central leadership is hesitating to seek the CEC’s resignation out of fear that doing so would be seen as an admission of guilt.
“They might believe this agitation will die down soon, but it will not cease. It has every possibility of turning into a mass revolution, as non-partisan democratic forces across the country have also risen in protest,” he noted.
Referring to the agitation held in Tamil Nadu by the INDIA bloc, Thirumavalavan said member parties have already decided to escalate the stir across all districts in the state following consultations among alliance leaders.
Responding to questions regarding allegations that voters’ names were manipulated during previous elections in constituencies like Kolathur, Thirumavalavan said he had earlier pointed out how the SIR exercise had caused adverse impacts across the country.
DMK president M K Stalin was defeated by the TVK in the Kolathur constituency in the recent Assembly elections.
When asked about allegations that the previous DMK-led government had implemented SIR in Tamil Nadu, he said: “Whichever party is in power anywhere, they are duty-bound to follow the directives of the Election Commission.”
Reacting to political developments regarding TVK aligning with INDIA bloc, Thirumavalavan dismissed doubts about their commitment to the campaign against the union government.
“They have joined the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu and participated in the protest. They are certainly against the Election Commission, the BJP, and the union government,” he said.
(PTI News)
