Chennai, Tamil Nadu – Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) staged a statewide protest on Sunday against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu, claiming that the exercise threatens the voting rights of millions ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. The protests marked the latest chapter in the growing political debate over the controversial phase 2 of the ongoing SIR exercise in the state.

Though Vijay himself did not participate in the demonstrations, key TVK leaders including state general secretary N Anand and senior leader Aadhav Arjuna led the protests in Chennai. Speaking to media personnel, Anand stated, “This protest is not just for a small demand. But it is being held to place it on record that through the SIR exercise, the voting rights of people are being removed.” Arjuna further questioned the ruling party, asking, “Why is the DMK not passing a resolution against SIR in the legislative state assembly?”

The TVK protests come amidst heightened scrutiny of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) handling of the SIR process. The DMK has expressed strong objections to the Election Commission of India’s decision to conduct the electoral roll revision ahead of the 2026 elections. The exercise, which is being carried out across all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, has been a flashpoint for political debate, with opposition parties citing confusion among voters and administrative challenges.

The DMK, which has approached the Supreme Court over the exercise and protested alongside their allies in the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), also criticized TVK for skipping the all-party meeting held on November 2 to discuss the electoral roll revision. Senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan remarked, “The DMK is fighting this legally and on the ground. If Vijay is concerned about SIR, why did TVK skip the all-party meeting to discuss how to fight it?”

While the AIADMK and BJP have largely backed the SIR exercise, Vijay has raised concerns over the potential disenfranchisement of approximately 6.36 crore voters in Tamil Nadu. In a video message released on November 15, the actor-politician urged party volunteers to ensure that enumeration forms reach the public. He stressed the importance of citizen participation, saying, “The people of Tamil Nadu must gather in huge numbers in front of the polling booths.”

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported that 5.9 crore enumeration forms, accounting for 92.04% of the state’s voters, have already been distributed across Tamil Nadu’s constituencies as of November 15. The ECI has maintained that the SIR process is critical for updating electoral rolls and ensuring that eligible voters are correctly registered.

Despite this, TVK’s protests highlighted widespread concerns among its supporters that the exercise, if improperly implemented, could inadvertently remove eligible voters from the rolls or create confusion at polling stations. The protests were organized across multiple districts in Tamil Nadu, drawing attention to voter awareness and the need for proper enumeration.

Political analysts note that TVK’s mobilization also serves to position the party as a key stakeholder in the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections, appealing to voters who feel anxious about the SIR process. While the party emphasizes procedural fairness and protection of voter rights, the ruling DMK has sought to challenge TVK’s narrative by pointing to legal action and coordinated protests with allied parties.

Meanwhile, the BJP suggested that Vijay could have leveraged the protest for constructive voter engagement. Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan remarked, “Instead of protesting today, Vijay could have used this strength to help people fill forms for SIR,” referencing political lessons from recent elections in Bihar.

The SIR controversy in Tamil Nadu thus underscores a broader tension between political mobilization, voter awareness, and administrative execution in one of India’s most electorally significant states. TVK’s statewide protests, while emphasizing the protection of voting rights, are likely to keep the SIR debate at the forefront of Tamil Nadu politics in the coming months as the state prepares for the 2026 assembly elections.