Singareni coal mine labor union elections are coming like the semi-finals of this year's assembly elections. These elections have become crucial for those trade unions affiliated to the political parties. Stakes turning high in coal belt elections with political heat created by TBGKS (BRS), INTUC (INC), AITUC (CPI) and BMS (BJP). The notification regarding the election will be released on September 22. Polling will be held on October 28 and nominations will be accepted from October 7. Election symbols will be allotted to the competing trade unions on October 10.
Elections for recognized trade union in Singareni have already been postponed three times due to various reasons. At present, an agreement was reached on the conduct of the elections in the meeting held by the Labor Commissioner with the trade unions. The last elections were held in October, 2017 and the tenure for the elected Boggugani Karmika Sangam (TBGKS) affiliated to BRS ended in 2021. The AITUC and INTUC used to win the SCCL polls as the recognized trade union before the emergence of TBGKS.
BRS to go All Out in Coal Belt:
Singareni Coal Mines industry was spread over four erstwhile Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts. The coal mines election results will have an impact on the 24 assembly constituencies where assembly elections are expected soon. SCCL headquarters located at Kothagudem assembly segment and the coal mines are existed in the Pinapaka, Yellandu, Sattupalli, Bhupalapalli, Ramgundam, Bellampalli, Asifabad, Chennur, and Mancherial segments. Coal miners will play deciding factor all of these assembly constituencies.
Ruling BRS taking more interest in Singareni Elections as this result will boost the party cadre and the voters for upcoming assembly elections. CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter and party MLC Kavitha is making all-out efforts to win the trade union elections, also TBGKS is strong than other opponent unions. In the 2014 and 2018 assembly elections, BRS candidates won in the state, but Congress candidates won more in the assembly segments of Singareni region. Therefore, the BRS government has not shown any positive attitude towards holding the recognition labor union elections for several years even the High Court ordered to conduct elections.
Poll Sops for Coal Miners:
The state government has announced many important decisions for coal miners to woo their votes in the elections. The management of the company has decided to pay the 23 months arrears of the 11th wage agreement in week days. Rs 1726 crore dues to about 42000 workers families will be paid immediately. Out of this, 12 percent CMPF, 7 percent pension and 30 percent income tax payments are excluded and the remaining Rs 900 crores will be deposited in workers' accounts. CMD N. Sridhar already announced at the 77th Independence Day celebrations on Aug 15, that workers to be paid Rs 1000 crore bonus before Dasara, Deepavali festivals.
Meanwhile, BRS can contest alone in Singareni elections as it snapped ties with the left parties recently. Going by the current situation, BJP's affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) will also contest along with TBGKS, AITUC, and INTUC. That means four-way contest is inevitable.
BJP to Answer on “Privatisation”:
The issue of privatization of SCCL and workers' welfare will be the issues that will figure prominently in the campaign in the coal belt areas. Coal belt issues are becoming major political issues because of retrenchment of its employees and workers, no new recruitment and not payment of compensation to those who suffered health issues while working in open-caste mines.
BRS and BJP are at loggerheads over the proposed privatization of coal blocks and mines. This issues also a major for Assembly and Parliament elections also. BJP leaders say BRS have no moral right to oppose the privatisation of SCCL since its MPs supported the MMD Bill in the Parliament that was aimed at privatisation of coal mines. In 2020, BMS also organized three-day protest against the privatization. Centre also announces that it has no intension of privatisation of PSU miner Singareni. But, BRS always trying to kept the issue alive.
Kavitha Eyes Coal Belt:
Generally 1.5 lakh employees or workers used to work in the Singareni and their number has been reduced 42000 recent days. Opposition parties alleged that the state government owes Rs 15000 crore to SCCL, which has been pushed into financial crisis. Company also suffering by the government side as it was not clearing dues of power and coal supplies. The Singareni elections will be crucial for BRS as it want to defeat the Congress in the coal belt constituencies in the upcoming assembly elections. Therefore, the BRS government is making all efforts to win present coal belt polls. Especially the fact that Kavita who is KCR's daughter is going to supervise the election herself is bringing more hype to this “Singareni Political War”.
