Mass transfers/leaves ahead of crucial TN Assembly polls!

Chennai, Mar 29: The upcoming Tamil Nadu elections will see sparks flying between the two stalwarts, M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa for political vantage points for their respective parties DMK and the AIADMK.

Both parties will go to any extent to attain what they have set their eyes on. After doling out freebies, now they seem to be shuffling officials in government agencies so that they work to their own advantage.

The latest comes from the Election Commission (EC) when it asked Jaffer Sait, the Tamil Nadu Intelligence Chief to go on leave till May 15. Letika Saran, the State Director General of Police will also be on leave till May 14. The move was carried out after a petition was filed by Jayalalithaa seeking the removal of both Sait and Saran.

Karunanidhi has cried foul over the move calling it an under-handed attempt by Jayalalithaa and claimed that the move was not done with the approval of the state government.

The EC had assigned Sait to be a poll observer for the West Bengal polls. He refused the offer citing that his presence was paramount in the state following the number of VIP visits to Tamil Nadu for election campaigning.

The EC, named Bhola Nath as the replacement for Saran and IG (Intelligence) Shankar Jiwal temporarily-in-charge for Sait's position till the elections. There were also other transfers before the Tamil Nadu polls including the transfer of six other IPS officers. The EC had justified its stand saying that it had enough powers to transfer the IAS and IPS officials without the express consent of the state government. The fact was conveyed before the Madras High Court.

OneIndia News