BJP govt at the Centre undermining constitutional values, rights of people: Kanimozhi

DMK deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Friday alleged that the BJP-led Union government was undermining constitutional values and eroding the rights guaranteed to citizens. Speaking at a protest in Chennai, she also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the revocation of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Protest in Chennai centres on Election Commission and voter rolls

Addressing demonstrators at Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai on October 16, 2026, Kanimozhi said the protest was aimed at drawing attention to what she described as a steady assault on democratic institutions and civic rights under the BJP government. She called for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and sought the withdrawal of the SIR exercise, alleging that it had led to widespread disenfranchisement.

Allegations against the Union government

Kanimozhi accused the Centre of attempting to delegitimise dissent. “Ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre, it has continued to brand everyone who questioned it as ‘anti-national,’” she said.

She also charged that the government showed disregard for Parliament, asserting that it had reduced the number of sitting days. According to her, Prime Minister Narendra Modi “rarely” attended House proceedings. “He delivers his prepared speeches and leaves the House,” she said.

“We have reached a situation in this country where the Union government appears to have no faith in democracy, no faith in the people’s elected representatives, and no faith in the Constitution. We have never seen a Union government of this kind before,” she added.

Concerns over voter disenfranchisement

Focusing on the SIR of electoral rolls, Kanimozhi alleged that the exercise had deprived a vast number of citizens of their voting rights. “Through the SIR exercise, nearly 13 crore citizens had been deprived of their right to vote. In Tamil Nadu, nearly 74 lakh people had lost their right to vote because of the SIR exercise,” she said.

She praised the mobilisation of young people around the issue, adding that the youth of India had “given fresh hope” and were fighting on behalf of those who had been removed from the rolls.

Critique of handling of protests

Kanimozhi also criticised the response to public demonstrations, drawing a parallel between what she alleged was suppression by the Union government and the approach of the Tamil Nadu authorities. “When young people took to the streets to protest, the authorities seemed to believe that they could take them somewhere, confine them, and suppress their protests,” she said.

Demands and implications

At the Chennai protest, Kanimozhi reiterated two core demands: the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the revocation of the SIR process. She framed these as essential steps to restore public confidence in democratic institutions and to safeguard the constitutional rights of citizens to participate in free and fair elections.

Significance

Kanimozhi’s remarks reflect intensifying political contestation over electoral processes and institutional accountability. By linking alleged voter disenfranchisement to a broader critique of governance and parliamentary practice, her address underscored opposition concerns about the health of democratic norms and civil liberties in the country.

Published: October 16, 2026