DMK stages walkout against bill to extend term of local body officers

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government on Saturday passed a bill to extend the term of special officers of local bodies for another six months until December 31, amid walkout by DMK, which accused the ruling party of being scared of facing elections. The bill was introduced in the state Assembly by Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani and later passed by voice vote.

This is the second extension for special officers, delaying local body elections further. Special officers were first appointed in October last year after the terms of elected local bodies ended. Since then the government has been extending the terms of special officers. When the bill was introduced by Velumani, DMK, Congress and IUML opposed the extension and walked out when the bill was passed in the evening. Later, speaking to the media, Stalin said AIADMK had split into three factions and they are afraid of facing elections.

He said DMK approached the court for proper conduct of the elections by following the rotation system in reservation. The court had directed the government to hold civic body elections properly, but the government and state Election Commission had sought more time to complete election works. The court had specified a particular date and ordered the holding of the local body polls, but the state government is extending the term of special officers, he said.

However, the minister said the six months extension for special officers is a temporary measure and the government would hold the elections after the verdict by Madras high court.