Government employees and teachers in Tamil Nadu have cautioned the ruling DMK that their votes played a decisive role in the party’s narrow victory in the 2021 assembly elections. They have demanded the government fulfill their long-pending requests, including scrapping the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and reinstating the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Failure to do so, they warned, could impact the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections.
Government employees claim that their postal votes, along with those of their families and colleagues, helped the DMK secure victory in multiple constituencies. They pointed out that in one constituency, the party won by just 43 votes. They also emphasized that their collective voting power could determine electoral outcomes, especially in seats where margins were thin.
Narrow Margins In 2021 Elections
During the 2021 assembly elections, the DMK won 29 constituencies with a margin of less than 6,000 votes and 14 additional constituencies with a margin of less than 10,000 votes. If these margins had swung the other way, they noted, the opposition AIADMK-led alliance could have gained significantly.
Some of the closest contests included:
- Thyagaraya Nagar – 137 votes
- Tenkasi – 370 votes
- Vriddhachalam – 746 votes
- Neyveli – 977 votes
- Jolarpet – 1,091 votes
- Thirumayam – 1,382 votes
- Tarapuram – 1,393 votes
- Antiyur – 1,275 votes
- Uthiramerur – 1,622 votes
- Tiruporur – 1,947 votes
- Rasipuram – 1,952 votes
- Vasudevanallur – 2,367 votes
- Mayiladuthurai – 2,742 votes
- Thiruchengode – 2,862 votes
In total, the DMK-led alliance won 43 constituencies with slim margins, while the AIADMK-led alliance lost these by a cumulative total of 2 lakh votes across the state.
அரசு ஊழியர்கள் மற்றும் மீடியா ஒரு முக்கிய காரணி.. pic.twitter.com/TwFIGJdIJk
— Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian (Modi ka Pariwar) (@BS_Prasad) February 21, 2025
Growing Unrest Among Government Employees
The unrest among government employees and teachers has intensified over unmet promises related to salary hikes, job security, and pay parity with central government employees. Various unions, including the Jacto-Geo Federation, have been protesting against the delay in fulfilling these demands.
A one-day statewide strike was initially scheduled for 15 February 2025 but last-minute negotiations with government representatives led to its temporary postponement. Employees had previously organized district-level preparatory meetings and threatened prolonged agitations if their demands were not met before the Tamil Nadu budget session.
With elections approaching, government employees have signaled that their grievances could have direct electoral repercussions. Many have taken to social media, voicing their dissatisfaction and hinting at a shift in their voting behavior if their demands remain ignored. They argued that the government should recognize the role they played in securing DMK’s victory and act before the upcoming elections.
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