Chennai: The Election Commission of India on Saturday shunted out the controversial RK Nagar returning officer K Velusamy. The transfer comes in the wake of opposition parties, including the DMK, demanding a change.
In an official communiqué on Saturday, the ECI announced the appointment of young IAS officer Praveen Nair as the new returning officer for the high stake RK Nagar constituency bypoll. Nair earlier served as the RK Nagar RO during the cancelled April bypoll and it is said that both the district election officer D. Karthikeyan and chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni backed the officer, who withstood all political pressures during the run-up to the cancelled April bypoll.
K. Velusamy, who was at the centre of controversy over the rejection of nomination papers of actor Vishal, is likely to return to his parent department as the joint director of Adidravidar welfare department.
Praveen P. Nair is currently the managing director of the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women and is aware of the constituency's boundaries and the issues. He has already served as the Chennai corporation regional deputy commissioner for north Chennai.
The posting of Mr. Nair had been made on the basis of recommendation of the CEO and it is learnt that the change was favoured following the controversy erupting over the rejection of Vishal's nomination.
“As per rule book, the action of returning officer was fair but the political drama resulted in the transfer of RO and more transfers are awaited”, a poll official said. ‘The leader of the opposition, MK Stalin, welcomed the transfer of returning officer.
