AIADMK urges EC to deploy Central Govt employees for Bypoll

Chennai, Sept 28 (UNI) The opposition AIADMK has appealed to the Election Commission to deploy Central Government employees in poll-related duties for the October 11 by-election to the Madurai Central Assembly constituency.

In a letter to the EC, AIADMK Election Wing Secretary O Panneerselvam said Tamil Nadu Government employees were not maintaining the necessary non-partisanship and were functioning without any neutrality in their service.

During the AIADMK regime from 2001-2006, the Government employees, including the secretariat staff, were asked to work towards implementing various public welfare measures, which evoked resentment among them, he claimed.

He said the DMK went on wooing the Government employees during the Assembly elections in May this year through union leaders, who lavished praises on the party.

Mr Panneerselvam alleged that the Government employees, who were in charge of polling booths had stealthily cast 50 to 100 votes in every booth in favour of the DMK, taking advantage of the illiteracy, old age, infirmity of the voters under the guise of helping them.

''The postal votes themselves will indicate in a glaring manner how 90 per cent of the votes were in favour of the DMK and its allies,'' he added.

He alleged the State Government offices were today functioning like branch offices of the DMK, catering to the needs of the partymen and propagating the name of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to the public.

''The Government employees are acting like undeclared members of the DMK and the functioning of the Government offices at present replicates the functioning of the DMK party office,'' he added.

Mr Panneerselvam said when Mr Karunanidhi assumed office as Chief Minister, he was greeted by Government employees, who lined up to shower flowers on him and celebrated with bursting crackers and distributing sweets. A few days before the announcement of the election, Mr Karunanidhi increased the dearness allowance by five per cent, stating that he had announced it on his own volition even without any such demand from the employees. ''This easily illustrates the cosy relationship existing between the DMK and the State Government employees,'' he added.

Stating that it was enshrined in the Constitution that the EC should take every step to conduct free and fair polls to uphold democracy, the AIADMK leader said it could be achieved only if the Central Government employees were allowed to be posted for poll duty.

He appealed to the EC to respond to the letter within a reasonable time, failing which the AIADMK would have to seek legal remedy. Because enough time was needed to approach the court, especially when the Dusserah holidays were fast apporaching.

''In the event of the EC not responding to the letter on or before September 30, 2006, the AIADMK will have no option except to approach the court for redressal,'' he added.

UNI