Tamil Nadu parties walk out of EC meeting over electoral rolls row

Representatives of Tamil Nadu's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led coalition and the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a coordinated walkout from an all-party meeting convened by the Election Commission in Chennai on Friday. The meeting had been scheduled to discuss the special summary revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in the state.

Both political formations cited alleged irregularities in the previous special intensive revision (SIR) as the basis for their protest. They jointly demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing what they characterized as procedural failures and administrative lapses in the conduct of the earlier electoral roll revision exercise.

The walkout by both the government and opposition underscores the heightened political tensions surrounding the state's electoral processes. The refusal of key stakeholders to participate in the commission's meeting raised questions about the smooth completion of the planned electoral roll revision exercise.

The Election Commission had convened the meeting to address concerns and facilitate coordination among political parties ahead of the SSR process. The coordinated protest by both major political groupings, despite their ongoing rivalry, signals shared apprehensions about the electoral administration's credibility in Tamil Nadu.