Election Commission replaces Tamil Nadu chief secretary

CHENNAI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday replaced Tamil Nadu chief secretary N Muruganandam with senior bureaucrat M Sai Kumar. In a simultaneous move, the commission also ordered the transfer of DGP (armed police, vigilance and anti-corruption) S Davidson Devasirvatham. Sandeep Mittal, a 1995-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the DGP of armed police and vigilance and anti-corruption.These high-level transfers come at a critical juncture as the campaign for the April 23 poll reaches a fever pitch. The move follows a wave of complaints from the opposition, alleging that the state’s administrative machinery has been operating in favour of the ruling DMK govt. In a formal communication to the chief secretary, ECI secretary Lata Tripathi directed that M Sai Kumar, a 1990-batch IAS officer, be immediately posted as the chief secretary of the govt of Tamil Nadu.The ECI further mandated that the outgoing officers should not be assigned to any election-related posts until the polling process is complete. Emphasising the urgency of the directive, the commission ordered the changes to be implemented with immediate effect, requiring a compliance and joining report by 6pm on Wednesday. She further stated that the transfer is part of the poll preparedness.