Chennai: The DMK govt came under fire for the cancellation of TNPSC Group II exam, with opposition leaders as well as DMK ally CPM criticising the state machinery.AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the govt’s ‘inability to conduct the exams has exposed as a hollow statement chief minister M K Stalin repeated claim of transforming TN into a superstar state’. “They (DMK govt) have failed to conduct even a single competitive examination properly. This single episode is enough to expose their inability to govern,” he said. He added the govt’s explanation of cancelling the exams due to a “technical glitch” had failed to acknowledge the years of preparation and sacrifice by lakhs of aspirants. “The DMK govt should not treat the issue as a routine administrative lapse,” he said. TVK president Vijay said in a statement candidates would be forced to reinvest time and effort when the exams are conducted again, leading to a loss of productive years and mental distress. “In the upcoming assembly elections, TN’s youth will rise in anger and, through democratic means, deliver a fitting lesson,” he said. BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran said the DMK promised govt jobs to five lakh youth after coming to power but has ‘failed to conduct even a recruitment examination properly.’ He alleged that appointments were being made on a commission basis and said the scale of lapses in Group II and II-A exams raised serious questions. PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss called for an inquiry against TNPSC authorities and demanded action against senior officials instead of blaming lower-level staff. Calling the incident shocking, CPI(M) state leader K Shanmugham, a DMK ally, said ‘officials responsible for conducting the examination acted irresponsibly.’ They should face immediate action, he said. He said TNPSC should announce the fresh examination date with adequate notice and ensure such lapses do not recur.
