CEC UP Visits Deferred Amid Opposition Outrage; Poll Body Denies Controversy Link

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched a fierce counter-attack against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) during a political address ahead of upcoming by-elections. Addressing sustained attacks and criticism from the principal opposition party, Vijay defended his administration's governance and welfare delivery, asserting that borrowing was undertaken exclusively for public welfare rather than corruption. Directly challenging former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the DMK leadership over past corruption inquiries, including the Sarkaria Commission, Vijay declared that his government represents the people. He contrasted his welfare schemes—such as fare-free bus travel and power initiatives—with the DMK's governance record, underlining that the electoral contest in Tamil Nadu remains squarely between his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and the DMK.

Congress workers staged protests across several states on Friday, demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the political row over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Punjab Congress organised a protest march to the Election Commission office in Chandigarh demanding the dismissal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Speaking on the protest, Punjab Congress General Secretary Captain Sandeep Sandhu accused the Chief Election Commissioner of taking unilateral decisions against the consensus of two fellow Election Commissioners. Sandhu noted that the two commissioners sent disagreement notes on twelve separate occasions regarding state election procedures. He argued that under constitutional guidelines, majority decisions should prevail instead of unilateral actions. Sandhu declared that internal dissent within the poll body makes the ongoing electoral process undemocratic and unacceptable to the Congress party ahead of elections.

A speaker raised allegations regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise, claiming over 13 crore voters nationwide have been disenfranchised and nearly half of Delhi voters have had their names deleted. Citing recent media reports, the speaker highlighted the introduction of a new VIP voter category in the Booth Level Officer application. Internal communications purportedly instructed officials to identify cabinet ministers, councillors, judges, advocates, bureaucrats, media personnel, and celebrities as VIPs. The speaker contrasted this treatment with that of common citizens, alleging that prominent figures receive doorstep grievance redressal within hours while ordinary vendors and workers are forced to stand in queues all day to protect their voting rights.