Speaking in Chennai on Monday, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, a prominent BJP leader, claimed that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), currently governing Tamil Nadu, is intentionally hindering the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to Murugan, this opposition is a calculated move to redirect public focus away from mounting allegations of corruption against the party.
Murugan asserted to reporters, “Whenever significant corruption allegations surface against the DMK, the party invariably fabricates another issue to draw attention away. Their resistance to the SIR initiative is a clear example of this strategy.”
He specifically cited recent claims by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) regarding recruitment irregularities within the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department, alongside ongoing allegations concerning irregularities in the state’s paddy procurement process, as the corruption issues the DMK seeks to obscure.
The Minister emphasized the critical importance of the SIR exercise, stating it is “the need of the hour” to guarantee that only legitimate voters are included in the electoral rolls while simultaneously eliminating fraudulent entries and duplicate voter registrations.
Interestingly, Murugan pointed out that the DMK itself has, in previous instances, highlighted concerns about “bogus voters” and advocated for electoral roll revisions.
He further noted that during an all-party meeting held on Sunday, MDMK general secretary Vaiko also raised the issue of invalid voter entries. Murugan urged all political parties and citizens to fully cooperate with the SIR initiative.
Concluding his remarks, Murugan reiterated firmly, “The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls must not, under any circumstances, be politicized.”