Virudhunagar: Support from serving and retired Tamil Nadu government employees is said to have moved significantly toward TVK, leaving the DMK surprised, according to local political assessments.
Postal ballots have traditionally been viewed as a strong indicator of government employees’ voting preference. This time, however, the postal vote is reported to be split more evenly among TVK, DMK and AIADMK, with TVK leading in some constituencies.
A section of government employees’ unions has been unhappy with the DMK government over the non-restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. The government’s announced “assured pension” model is also said to have failed to satisfy many employees who continue to demand the earlier scheme.
TVK’s election manifesto promise to “consider” the Old Pension Scheme reportedly found acceptance among many government employees and teachers. Discontent is also attributed to repeated official camps, including “Stalin with you” programmes, which some employees felt added to their workload.
Ongoing labour unrest—such as strikes by ration shop staff and revenue department unions, demands for equal pay for equal work by middle-grade teachers, and protests by anganwadi workers over unfilled vacancies—has further strengthened anti-incumbency sentiment among sections of employees, the report said.
