EC succumbing to pressure tactics of DMK-Congress: AIADMK

The AIADMK delegation, led by Dr M Thambidurai, which met Chief Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi at Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, charged that the transfers were done based on motivated representations by the DMK and Congress parties. 

“It is deplorable that such transfers have been ordered by the ECI without proper inquiry into the basis of these allegations or background check of the officers concerned,” the delegation said. 

Apart from the transfer of senior police officials in the rank of like IG (Intelligence), ADGP (L&O) and Commissioner of Police (Greater Chennai), the DGP was divested of all responsibilities relating to conduct of elections and a separate DGP (Elections) has been posted. 

The AIADMK delegation pointed out that with barely a fortnight left for the polls, newly posted officials would not have time to carry out poll-related works, especially on the law and order front, as all these require detailed local knowledge and a grasp of recent developments in the area. 

Observing that the largescale transfers ordered by ECI were based on ‘false’ petitions and ‘ill advised’, Dr Thambidurai said that it could challenge the smooth conduct of the election process, besides having an adverse impact on the morale of the official machinery. 

“This is particularly so since the ECI guidelines on posting of officers to ensure free and fair polls have been strictly adhered to by the state government,” the representation read. 

The delegation asserted that such transfers in Tamil Nadu, known for its strong and good governance, will be counterproductive to the peaceful and efficient conduct of polls. It may be noted that the ECI has also transferred 9 district collectors, 7 Superintendents of Police, 5 Deputy Superintendents of Police and a District Revenue Officer besides other lower level revenue and police officials. 

Apart from this, non-poll related officials like Managing Director of Arasu Cable TV Corporation have also been transferred, which the AIADMK delegation called as ‘unprecedented’.