Revoke transfer orders of IAS and IPS officials, AIADMK tells CEC

Chennai: Terming the transfer of IAS and IPS officials in Tamil Nadu by the Election Commission as “unprecedented”, the AIADMK on Monday sought immediate revocation of the order arguing that such “large scale” transfers would be “counter-productive” to the peaceful and efficient conduct of polls.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi in Thiruvananthapuram, the AIADMK MPs said it was “shocking” that several senior IAS and IPS officers have been transferred only on the “motivated petitions and representations” received from the DMK and Congress. Mr Zaidi was in Thiruvananthapuram to review poll preparedness.

“It is deplorable that such transfers have been effected by the Election Commission of India 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,” the memorandum signed by Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha M Thambidurai and other MPs said.

The Election Commission had transferred Chennai Police Commissioner T K Rajendran and a few other senior officials in the past few days and also divested the Director General of Police of all responsibilities relating to conduct of elections.

“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 counterproductive to the peaceful and efficient conduct of polls,” the AIADMK MPs said.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the memorandum, Mr Thambidurai said the DMK and Congress gave “false and motivated” complaints to the EC against senior officials only due to fear of losing. “The AIADMK is going to win. But the way these senior officials have been transferred is not right. The EC has acted just on the petitions submitted by the DMK and Congress,” he said.

In the memorandum, the MPs argued the newly posted officers would have hardly any time to come up to speed with the poll preparatory activities, which require detailed local knowledge and a grasp of recent developments in the area. Taking objection to transfer of non-poll related officials like the Managing Director of the Arasu Cable TV Corporation, the MPs termed it as “unprecedented”.

“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,” he said.