Chennai, Feb 7: Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami, has raised concerns over the recent decision by the DMK government to trifurcate the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO). Palaniswami accused the government of attempting to privatize the public sector under the guise of restructuring.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Palaniswami strongly condemned the government’s move, alleging that it was a blatant attempt to privatize essential services. He highlighted the historical context, recalling the previous trifurcation of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) during the DMK regime in 2006-2011. This previous restructuring had resulted in the formation of TANGEDCO, TANTRANSCO, and TNEB Limited.
Now, the DMK government aims to further divide TANGEDCO into three separate entities: TN Power Generation Corporation Ltd (TNPGCL), TN Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL), and TN Green Energy Corporation Ltd (TNGECL). Palaniswami voiced suspicions that the creation of TNGECL might be a precursor to privatization, raising concerns about the future of public sector jobs and workers’ welfare.
Palaniswami invoked the legacy of former Chief Minister K Kamaraj, who promised job security and welfare benefits for workers when the Electricity Board was formed in 1957. He emphasized that successive AIADMK governments had upheld these commitments, and the current government’s actions could jeopardize them.
The Opposition leader warned that the government’s purported goals of reducing expenditure and streamlining the workforce were merely pretexts for privatization. He urged the DMK government to halt such moves immediately and focus on addressing the vacant positions within the department.