MK Stalin slams transfer of Tamil Nadu officials, calls EC ‘a branch of BJP’

TIRUVANNAMALAI: Hours after Election Commission (EC) transferred TN chief secretary N Muruganandam and DGP (DVAC) S David Devasirvatham on Wednesday, chief minister M K Stalin accused the commission of acting like “a branch of BJP.”

Earlier in the day, EC replaced Muruganandam with senior bureaucrat M Sai Kumar and Devasirvatham with Sandeep Mittal, a 1995-batch IPS officer. Questioning EC’s action, Stalin said nobody can stop DMK’s victory through such moves.





“Who are you trying to help by transferring the officials,’’ Stalin asked during his campaign at Tiruvannamalai and Kallakurichi districts on Wednesday.

“Just a few days ago, EC officials visited Chennai and stated that the law and order situation in TN was excellent and the administration was fully cooperative. What changed in a week,” Stalin asked. He alleged that these transfers, particularly in places such as Salem, were orchestrated to benefit AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and the NDA coalition. Salem collector Brindha Ravi was transferred a day ago and Arun Thamburaj was posted in her place. “Is it happening to help EPS,’’ he asked.

Stalin also questioned whether EC transferred the officials in a similar manner in BJP-ruled states ahead of polls. “Were the chief secretary and DGP transferred like this during the Bihar elections? This is a blatant attempt to stall the DMK’s victory, but they will fail miserably,” he said.

Stalin slammed Palaniswami for being a “silent partner” in BJP’s alleged anti-Tamil agenda. He criticised Palaniswami for supporting the rapid and “stressful” special intensive revision (SIR) of voter lists, which DMK had opposed to protect voters’ rights and reduce the burden on govt staff.

“Mr Palaniswami, tell us honestly. Have you ever stood by the people of Tamil Nadu against your Delhi owners? Have you ever condemned a single act of BJP that goes against the Tamil language or our rights,” Stalin asked. He warned that an NDA victory would mean the immediate termination of welfare schemes such as Vidiyal Payanam (free bus travel) and Urimai Thogai (rights grant).