CHENNAI: The State unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Sunday urged the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government to restore the previous system of direct polls for electing the heads of local bodies including corporations, municipalities and town panchayats.

State CPI secretary D. Pandian told The Hindu here that the State council of the party had a detailed discussion on the overall political situation in the State at its two-day meeting. The council adopted a resolution calling for the amendment of the relevant law to change the system of indirect elections.

"Our experience in the recently held local body elections has confirmed that the present method [of indirect elections] only leads to demolishing all the democratic norms," he said.

The CPI, though another resolution, criticised Central and State Governments for the "unreasonable and unprecedented" rise in the price of essential commodities. The party decided to launch a "prolonged campaign" urging the Governments to take effective measures immediately to curb the price rise. It called upon the State Government to ensure supply of some essential articles through the public distribution system.

Mullaperiyar issue

On the Mullaperiyar issue, the party appealed to the Kerala Government to honour the Supreme Court's order before starting negotiations to settle other issues including its alternative proposals. It appealed to all political parties not to aggravate the issue through agitations and inflammatory speeches, as itwould result in "disturbing normal relations between the two sister States."

The CPI urged the State to take steps to enrol all genuine farm workers under the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labourers Welfare Board, which, they said, should be made functional. Members of the welfare board should be given identity cards so that they couldavail themselves of various benefits under the comprehensive social security scheme.

Congratulating all the judges of the Madras High Court for accepting, in principle, the use of Tamil as the court language, the CPI council appealed to the State to create the necessary infrastructure.

Stressing the need for prohibiting the cultivation and testing of genetically engineered crops in the State, the party said the farmers' right to produce and keep their seeds must be preserved at any cost. It also wanted release of adequate funds to the cooperative banks for fresh crop loans. The State council of the CPI expressed its support to the proposed general strike called by the central trade unions on December 14, Mr. Pandian said.

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