Co-op polls: TNGEA accuses AIADMK of harassing officers

The Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association (TNGEA) on Thursday alleged that government officers were being forced by the ruling AIADMK to limit the number of candidates contesting elections to cooperative bodies to a mere 11 in each body. The TNGEA sought protection to the officers involved in election duty and warned that failing this its members would boycott poll work.

In a joint statement issued here, TNGEA president M. Subramanian and general secretary M. Anbarasu alleged that the election officers were being “forced by the ruling party workers and higher officers” to declare a candidates’ list with only 11 candidates during the filing of nominations in the first phase.

“There is an apprehension that this would continue during the remaining three phases too,” the statement said. The organisation referred to an incident in Kanniyakumari where a returning officer was abused by opposition DMK and Congress MLAs, and claimed that election officers were being threatened by the opposition party members because of the government.

The association questioned the silence of the Commissioner of the Tamil Nadu State Co-operative Societies Election Commission (to such threats) and said it was not acceptable. If suitable protection was not ensured to the officers by the District Collectors and Election Observers, the officers would be forced to boycott election duty, the association cautioned.