Tamil Nadu assembly election: AIADMK protests transfers of IAS, IPS officers by EC

The ruling AIADMK today “strongly protested” the manner in which transfers of many IAS and IPS officials were effected by the Election Commission in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, describing it as “an apparent knee jerk response to motivated petitions and representations” from DMK and Congress.

An AIADMK team led by M Thambidurai MP, also Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, today submitted a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi in Thiruvananthapuram, seeking ECI to revoke “the transfer orders, given that such a short period is left before the date of polling.”

“We strongly protest the manner in which such large-scale transfers have been ordered by the Election Commission of India in an apparent knee jerk response to motivated petitions and representations from vested interests.”

“We strongly urge the Election Commission of India to revoke the transfer orders, given that such a short period is left before the date of polling,” it said.

Referring to the transfers and appointments of senior officials, including a DGP (Elections), it said that though there were no complaints on arrangements for conduct of polls in the state, the DGP who was in overall charge of the Police force, had been “divested” of all responsibilities relating to conduct of elections. Such large-scale transfers ordered by EC in the run up to the polls were “unprecedented in Tamil Nadu,” it said.

“It is shocking to note that such a large number of officers have been transferred, based only on the motivated petitions and representations received from DMK and Congress and without due enquiry into the basis of these allegations or a background check of the officers concerned,” the party said.

The petition said it was “deplorable” that such transfers had been effected by the EC based on “motivated and false petitions submitted by persons who had occupied high positions as Cabinet Ministers in the previous UPA Government headed by the Congress, of which DMK was also a part.”

“We wish to categorically point out that such large scale transfers in a state like Tamil Nadu, which is known for its strong and good governance, is counter productive to the peaceful and efficient conduct of polls,” it said.