{
  "id": 15151332,
  "title": "DMK demands removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; return to paper ballots",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/dmk-demands-removal-of-cec-gyanesh-kumar-return-to-paper-ballots",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T07:48:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dmk-demands-removal-of-cec-gyanesh-kumar-return-to-paper-ballots/article71595716.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 17, 2026, the DMK presidential meeting, chaired by M.K. Stalin, demanded Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's removal. The party alleged that Kumar had overseen the deletion of voters' names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), thus overriding objections from the other two Election Commissioners. A resolution passed at the meeting stated that Gyanesh Kumar should be removed and put through an appropriate inquiry. The DMK also proposed a return to paper ballots due to concerns over the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs), as discrepancies between recorded EVM votes and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips arose. The party stated that public confidence in elections is waning because of the perceived failure of the Commission to maintain impartiality. The DMK further decided to submit a representation to the President requesting the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) before the Assembly elections, and demanded that future elections be conducted based on existing electoral rolls.",
  "summary": "The CEC must be removed and subjected to an appropriate inquiry, said a resolution adopted at a meeting chaired by DMK president M.K. Stalin",
  "key_points": [
    "DMK demands Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's removal",
    "Proposed return to paper ballots due to EVM discrepancies",
    "Requested cancellation of SIR before Assembly elections"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "‘Gyanesh must be removed’: DMK demands CEC’s ouster, backs student protests",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/gyanesh-must-be-removed-dmk-demands-cecs-ouster-backs-student-protests",
        "published": "2026-10-17T07:49:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "DMK backs student protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, accuses Congress and TVK of ‘double standards’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/dmk-backs-student-protests-against-cec-gyanesh-kumar-accuses-congress",
        "published": "2026-10-17T08:59:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}