Stalin slams EC over transfer of TN Chief Secretary, calls it ‘political overreach’

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday sharply criticised the Election Commission of India (EC) for transferring Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam during the ongoing Assembly election process, terming the move a “one-sided colourable exercise” and alleging that it was carried out under the instigation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The poll panel replaced Muruganandam with M. Saikumar, a 1990-batch IAS officer who had earlier served as Personal Secretary to former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. In a parallel move, Davidson Devasirvatham, DGP (Armed Reserve and Vigilance), was also transferred and replaced by Sandeep Mittal.

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The EC directed that the transferred officials should not be assigned any election-related duties until the completion of the poll process.

The reshuffle follows earlier administrative changes, including the transfer of the state DGP. Notably, the developments come amid allegations by Mamata Banerjee that there was collusion between the EC and opposition parties in Tamil Nadu.

In a strongly worded post on X, Stalin accused the EC of acting in favour of the BJP without directly participating in campaigning. “I register my strong condemnation for this one-sided colourable exercise which is a political overreach,” he said.

Calling the move “shameful,” Stalin alleged that the Commission was acting at the behest of the Union government led by the BJP. He argued that constitutional protections granted to the EC were not meant to enable partisan conduct.

The Chief Minister further claimed that similar actions had not been taken in BJP-ruled or allied states, citing Assam and Bihar as examples, and alleged selective targeting of opposition-ruled states like Tamil Nadu.

“It is unbecoming of the EC to act as an eager partner in alleged electoral malpractices in tandem with the AIADMK-BJP alliance,” he said, adding that such actions undermine the credibility of an institution meant to uphold free and fair elections.

Stalin also criticised recent changes in the appointment process of the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging that they weaken institutional independence. He warned that the perceived erosion of the EC’s neutrality poses a “grave danger” to democratic processes.

Expressing confidence in his party’s prospects, Stalin asserted that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam would emerge victorious in Tamil Nadu despite what he termed as administrative interference.

“Attempts to influence the election through such measures will not succeed,” he said, comparing the move to “trying to stop a wedding by hiding the comb.”