SIR in his crosshairs, Udhayanidhi says BJP ally AIADMK is Amit Shah Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

‘SIR meant to delete DMK votes’

Udhayanidhi said the SIR exercise targeted minorities, women and marginalised groups, whose votes, he claimed, increasingly went to the DMK. “Such votes did not go to the BJP despite their efforts. Hence, the SIR exercise was devised to search and delete votes of such people,” he said.

He alleged that around 97 lakh names had been removed from the electoral rolls across Tamil Nadu, including about 14 lakh just in Chennai. He added, “It was our CM (M K Stalin) who had spoken first about the impact of the exercise.”

Appealing to voters, Udhayanidhi said: “Vote is our right, voting is not only a duty. Please check if your names figure in the electoral rolls.” He said DMK booth-level agents would help people submit the required forms and that January 18 was the deadline for corrections.

AIADMK-BJP tie-up, NEP and Hindi imposition

Taking aim at the AIADMK leadership, Udhayanidhi questioned party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami’s claim that the AIADMK would protect minorities despite its alliance with the BJP. “Please save your party first from the BJP,” he said.

Udhayanidhi also reiterated DMK’s opposition to the New Education Policy, alleging that the BJP-led Centre was again attempting to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu. He said the CM had made it clear that the state would not accept the policy even if it brought a Rs 10,000-crore payout from the Union government.

Referring to Amit Shah’s remarks after the BJP’s Bihar victory, Udhayanidhi said the Union minister had identified Tamil Nadu as the party’s next target. “Tamil Nadu people and the followers of Kalaignar will never be afraid; you may win in northern states, but your tactics will not succeed in Tamil Nadu,” he said.