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TN govt against Election Commission: state panel chief

Tamil Nadu Election Commissioner S Malaisamy on Friday alleged that the state government was trying to cut the Election Commission to size and declared that he would fight it out.

Addressing the media, he charged that the state government was being "increasingly hostile to the Commission and to him in particular".

He further alleged that the financial autonomy of the state Election Commission was being eroded and its functioning hampered due to inadequate staff at the regional, district and block levels.

The Commission should have been given a staff of 75, including six officers or secretaries. But he was forced to carry on only with a staff of 57, he said.

He criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K A Nambiar for failing to honour an appointment sought by him seven months ago to thrash out the issues.

"As one holding a constitutional position, I need not approach him. Only to fulfil the statutory obligation, I decided to seek an appointment," he stated.

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