Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, participated in an INDIA bloc protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Chennai on Thursday, the party’s first participation in a campaign calling for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar since joining the opposition alliance on October 3. The protest was over the alleged violations in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.
The protest, organised under the banner of “Protect Democracy”, drew together representatives from all seven constituent parties in the demonstration. Congress MP B Manickam Tagore and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) organised the event which was part of a larger campaign to put up questions about the electoral process and election commission functioning.
TVK’s involvement was attention-grabbing as it was a public appearance alongside INDIA bloc constituents in a campaign targeting the Chief Election Commissioner. It also comes at a time when political discussions about the party’s role in the opposition alliance in Tamil Nadu and at the national level are in full swing.
The protesters called for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar, citing problems with electoral rolls and the revision process. These allegations are the same that opposition parties have raised and do not, in themselves, prove wrongdoing on the part of the Election Commission.
TVK Leaders Join VCK, MDMK and Other Opposition Representatives
A number of prominent political figures attended the Chennai demonstration. TVK leader and Tamil Nadu School Education Minister A Rajmohan was among them, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president and Member of Parliament Thol Thirumavalavan, and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko.
Representatives from other INDIA bloc parties were also present, including Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) chief KM Kader Mohideen, Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary P Shanmugam, Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary M Veerapandian and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) state secretary Pala Asaithamby. Nivedit Alva, the All India Congress Committee’s in-charge for Tamil Nadu, was among the Congress functionaries present.
The participation of the leaders of various opposition parties underlined an effort to present a united front on the issue of electoral administration. For TVK, it was a visible opportunity to understand the alliance’s political activities in the state after it had entered the INDIA bloc on October 3.
VCK Leader Says Democracy Must Prevail
During the protest, VCK leader SS Balaji said that justice and democracy will eventually prevail and he was confident and optimistic about the outcome of the protest. He also spoke about TVK’s participation and TVK’s position in the wider opposition alliance.
TVK had expressed interest in joining the Tamil Nadu INDIA bloc, Balaji said, but the formal recognition of the party's entry at the national level would be discussed at the alliance meeting. His words showed TVK’s involvement in state-level opposition activities and the alliance’s wider organisational processes.
The development places TVK among the parties involved in a joint protest against the Chief Election Commissioner. But the long-term implications of the party’s alliance participation will depend on the subsequent political decision and the manner in which it will engage with the other opposition parties.
Congress MP Vijay Vasanth Accuses Election Commission of Favouring BJP
Congress MP Vijay Vasanth called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation during the demonstration, saying that the Election Commission was biased towards BJP. The alleged conduct was undemocratic and the government should address it, he said.
Vasanth also welcomed TVK’s participation, suggesting the party’s involvement would strengthen the protest. The Congress has continued to express its opposition to electoral rolls and to the SIR process, and such are critical issues for its opposition campaign.
The allegations made by Congress leaders represent the opposition’s position. The Election Commission’s actions and the claims about the revision of voter lists remain political disputes.
Chennai Protest Takes Place Amid Congress-DMK Tensions
The demonstration against an increasingly tense atmosphere between Congress and the DMK also comes at the same time as the Congress is protesting the DMK's anti-Gautama Moghadhi sentiments. The DMK has distanced itself from Congress-led agitations and accused its former ally of betrayal, as it has emerged that the two parties are inching closer to one another.
The dispute adds another layer to the political landscape of Tamil Nadu. While the Congress has tried to galvanise INDIA bloc partners around the demand for the removal of the CEC, the DMK’s distance from the agitation points to differences within the opposition on strategy and political priorities.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: The TVK joins the INDIA bloc’s protest against the CEC Gyanesh Kumar https://t.co/Q9GXVKFA0k
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2026
TVK’s presence at the Chennai protest may have implications beyond the immediate demand for the Chief Election Commissioner. It is the party’s first participation in this campaign since joining the INDIA bloc and an indication of its willingness to take part in collective opposition activities.
The coming weeks could provide a bit more clarity on how TVK coordinates with alliance partners, how the INDIA bloc addresses its concerns about electoral processes and whether opposition parties’ divisions affect their ability to sustain a united campaign.
The Chennai demonstration has brought TVK, Congress and many other opposition parties together around a common demand but conflicts in the political landscape are still affecting their relations.
Comments
Leave a Comment