Amid ADMK & BJP boycott, Tamil Nadu parties meet, decide to move SC on SIR

CHENNAI: Several political parties in Tamil Nadu Sunday attended a meeting chaired by chief minister M K Stalin here and resolved to approach Supreme Court to challenge the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu, which is set to begin in two days in the state.However, AIADMK, BJP, both factions of PMK, NTK, AMMK, TVK, TMC and some opposition parties boycotted the "all-party" meeting called by the CM. Among them, TVK and NTK have been publicly opposed to the SIR.Stalin later said that it was the duty of all political parties to lend their voice against the "hasty SIR exercise which snatches the voting rights of Tamil Nadu people and buries to death the democracy". "Those parties that skipped the meeting should also take the initiative to safeguard democracy," he said in a post on X.On his part, TVK president and actor Vijay accused DMK of opposing the SIR only for political gains, though he reiterated his party's opposition to the exercise.The resolution passed at the meeting demanded EC immediately withdraw the SIR in TN. "Since the final judgment in the case against SIR in Supreme Court has not come, SIR in TN is a completely anti-democratic act. Hence, this meeting requests EC to withdraw SIR," the resolution said, adding SIR should be conducted only after the 2026 state assembly polls which should be held by following SC guidelines. The meeting was attended by representatives of 46 parties, including DMK allies. DMDK, which is not a DMK ally, also present.