
Palaniswami, Dhinakaran urge Centre, Railway to allot exam centres for Tamil Nadu candidates within State
The Hindu
AIADMK and AMMK leaders criticise Central government for allotting exam centres in Telangana for Tamil Nadu candidates.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Sunday (March 16, 2025) criticised the Central government and the Southern Railway over allotment of exam centres for a majority of Tamil Nadu candidates appearing for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot in Telangana. The second phase of the recruitment is scheduled to commence on March 19.
Expressing shock over reports that the exam centres for about 90% of candidates from Tamil Nadu to these posts have been allotted in Telangana, Mr. Palaniswami underlined the challenges faced by the candidates. He further contended the Central government should realise that such actions would hit the interest of candidates aspiring to join the Railway.
“I insist the Central government and the Southern Railway to consider the concerns of the candidates from Tamil Nadu and allot exam centres for them within Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
AMMK, an ally of the BJP, too made the same demand. The party’s founder Mr. Dhinakaran, in a social media post, urged that the Central government should ensure that candidates from Tamil Nadu were allotted exam centres within the State.
A majority of the 6,315 candidates from Tamil Nadu, who have emerged successful in the first phase of the recruitment process, have been allotted exam centres in other States for the second phase, Mr. Dhinakaran pointed out.
Citing the disappointment of candidates in this regard, Mr. Dhinakaran contended that such allotment of exam centres far away would lead to challenges to these candidates to reach the exam centres in time.
“I insist the Central government and the Ministry of Railways to undertake necessary steps to allot exam centres within Tamil Nadu for candidates from the State aspiring to join the railway service,” the former legislator urged.