Chennai: The Election commission of India, in consultation with the state government, nominated senior IAS officer Sandeep Saxena as the state’s new chief electoral officer, on Monday.
Dr Saxena, who was the agricultural production commissioner and principal secretary to government, agriculture department has also been designated as the principal secretary to government, public (elections) department, said a statement from chief secretary, Mohan Verghese Chunkath.
There was neither a communiqué from the state government on a new assignment for the outgoing CEO Praveen Kumar, nor one on the posting of a successor to Dr Saxena to head the agriculture department.
Mr Kumar had almost completed four years as CEO. He was hurt that the DMK had moved President Pranab Mukherjee early this month for action against him, leveling charges that Section 144 enforced by him on the eve of polling day had helped AIADMK in the recent LS elections.
Mr Kumar had twice approached the EC seeking transfer during his stint as the CEO after he had won accolades for conducting the 2011 assembly polls in a peaceful manner. When quizzed on his decision to quit the top post, Mr Kumar said “it was becoming too routine for me at the election office.”
He termed the transfer as a common phenomenon for any government official. “I enjoyed working as the state CEO and now looking forward for the new assignments,” he said.
New voters: A total of 7,45,177 applications were filed in a special campaign held by the Election Commission on Sunday for revision of voter rolls.
The next special campaign would be conducted on November 2 (Sunday) (except Thoothukkudi where it will be held on November 1). The officials will receive the filled in forms at the designated locations between 10 am and 5 pm, according to an official release.
