Status: cleared
Chennai: Several NGOs came together on Tuesday to condemn the Tamil Nadu election commission for its delay in notification of local body elections in the state.
The tenure of 91,975 rural local body-elected representatives in Tamil Nadu is coming to an end on January 5, 2025, after their previous elections in December 2019. However, the Tamil Nadu Election Commission is yet to notify the local body elections in around 28 districts citing delimitation and pending civil works, they said. NGOs including Thannatchi, Arappor Iyakkam, Voice of People, Institute of Grassroots Governance, and Thozhan met the Tamil Nadu state election commissioner B Jothi Nirmalsamy, and secretary to Chief Minister MS Shanmugam.
“They should have announced the elections and called for nominations at least a month ago. They don’t want to hold elections. They did not even announce a date,” said Jayaram Venkatesan from Arappor Iyakkam.
When rural body local govt elections were not held between 2016 and 2019, there were complaints of unsafe drinking water, bad roads, poor street lights, and solid waste management issues. “If the elections are not held on time, people fear that their elected representatives will be replaced by special officers,” said Nandha from Thannatchi.
Additionally, 56% of women elected representatives and the elected representatives belonging to reserved categories of scheduled castes and tribes will lose office. “Most of them depend on this job for their livelihoods. They may leave town for other jobs. The rural local body elections for these minority groups will not only benefit their economic development but also in establishing social justice,” said Prabhakaran from the Institute of Grassroots Governance. MSID:: 116408836 413 |
