The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has officially extended its support to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in its ongoing agitation against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The decision was formalized during a meeting of DMK Members of Parliament, chaired by party president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin, held on Saturday.
During the session, the party adopted a series of resolutions concerning the state of the electoral process. Among the key demands put forward by the DMK are the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the immediate cancellation of the SIR exercise, and the restoration of the traditional paper ballot system for elections. The party indicated its intent to present a formal petition to the President of India to advocate for the discontinuation of Electronic Voting Machines and a return to pre-SIR electoral rolls for future polling.
While throwing its weight behind the CJP-led movement, the DMK maintained a firm stance against the Congress party. The regional party reiterated its decision to remain separate from the Congress, accusing the latter of employing double standards regarding the electoral roll revision. DMK leadership claimed that the Congress has attempted to take credit for a campaign that primarily gained momentum through the mobilisation of students and youth. Party members further emphasized that the DMK would not engage in any joint activities alongside the Congress.
MK Stalin has been particularly vocal regarding the recent police crackdown on activists associated with the CJP. Earlier this week, the DMK president strongly criticised the detention of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke prior to a scheduled protest march, as well as the detentions of other leaders, including Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, following a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Expressing his disapproval on social media, Stalin described the detention of protesters without disclosed locations as illegal and inhumane, calling for their immediate release.
Addressing the broader political climate, Stalin asserted that the government’s efforts to suppress the protests through detentions would only serve to strengthen the movement. In addition to moral support, the DMK has committed to providing legal assistance to CJP members involved in the ongoing struggle against the current electoral roll revision policy.
When questioned about the possibility of a formal political alliance with the CJP, DMK MP A Raja noted that the organization has not yet transitioned into a formal political party. However, he acknowledged that he shared the perspective of Congress leader P Chidambaram, who had previously assessed that the CJP possessed the potential to evolve into a significant political force. For now, the DMK’s engagement remains focused on the specific issues surrounding electoral integrity.
The current situation follows an increasingly strained relationship between the DMK and the Congress, which has seen further deterioration since the 2026 state assembly elections. By positioning itself independently, the DMK aims to champion the cause of student and youth movements while maintaining a clear distance from the Congress and the ruling TVK, both of which the party has accused of failing to take a consistent stand on the electoral roll controversy.
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