CHENNAI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday urged the Tamil Nadu government to announce local body elections at the earliest, arguing that the delay was affecting the delivery of basic civic services to the people.
Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address in the Assembly, CPI MLA K Marimuthu said elected local bodies were essential for addressing the day-to-day needs of the public and ensuring effective grassroots governance.
“The government should announce local body elections as early as possible. Due to the delay, several basic needs of the people are not being addressed on time,” Marimuthu said.
The CPI member also criticised certain aspects of the Governor’s Address, stating that it did not adequately address issues concerning labour welfare and the interests of workers.
Referring to the four labour codes enacted by the Union government, Marimuthu expressed concern over their potential impact on workers' rights and job security. “If the State government implements the four labour laws introduced by the Union government, the future of workers could become uncertain.
Labour welfare must remain a priority,” he said. He also appealed to the government not to privatise essential civic services and cautioned against handing over sanitation-related work to multinational corporations. “The future of sanitation workers should not be entrusted to multinational companies. Their livelihoods and welfare must be protected,” he said.