Communist Party of India Begins Petition to Halt New Secretariat Project in Chennai

Chennai, Tamil Nadu – On Sunday, the Communist Party of India (CPI) kicked off a signature‑collection drive demanding the revocation of a recent Government Order that cleared the way for a new Secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam.

The party’s local committee set up booths across key neighbourhoods, urging residents and workers to add their names to a petition that calls for the order’s withdrawal. CPI officials said the campaign aims to spark a broader public debate about the project's necessity, cost and impact on the surrounding community.

The proposed Secretariat, slated to house several administrative departments, has drawn attention from civic groups who question the allocation of state funds and potential disruptions to the area’s infrastructure. By mobilising citizens to sign the petition, the CPI hopes to pressure the state government into reconsidering the plan before detailed designs and construction begin.

For the South‑Asian diaspora, the development highlights ongoing issues of governance and public‑sector spending in India, underscoring how local decisions can ripple through the broader community. The campaign will continue through the coming weeks, with organizers promising to submit the compiled signatures to the state’s Department of Administration.