Officials’ transfers routine, nothing wrong in it, says Rajenthra Bhalaji

CHENNAI: Denying the opposition charge of 'sudden' transfers of IAS officials, particularly Secretary of Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, Milk and Dairy Development Minister K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji justified the government moves and said there was nothing wrong in effecting the transfers before elections.

"Transferring officials before any election is a usual practice. There is nothing wrong in it," he said in response to the DMK charge that the ruling AIADMK was attempting to scuttle the prospects of holding the local bodies elections.

In a surprise move, the State government on Thursday transferred Tamil Nadu State Election Commission Secretary S. Palanisamy, even as he was on a tour of the southern districts assessing the preparedness for conducing the local bodies elections, and posted him as Director of Town Panchayats. Hitherto, Mr. Palanisamy has been incharge Director of Town Panchayats. L. Subramanian, Villupuram district collector, succeeds Palanisamy as the Secretary of TN State Election Commission.

Taking strong exception to the 'sudden' transfers, DMK chief M. K. Stalin tweeted, "Has the Villupuram district collector been rewarded with the post of Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Election Commission for being loyal during the Vikravandi Assembly by-election? - the DMK president asked in his tweet. "Is this measure aimed at deferring the local bodies election or to indulge in hodgepodge?"

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr. Bhalaji said his AIADMK would accord importance to youth in fielding them as candidates in the yet to be announced local bodies elections.

Meanwhile, AIADMK senior and Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said the results of the by-elections at Vikravandi and Nanguneri have made AIADMK's stature rise to Himalayan heights while dwarfing that of the opposition party. "We will register a resounding victory in the local bodies elections," he said.

Cooperation Minister Sellur K. Raju took pot shots at DMK president Stalin saying the leader of the opposition in the Assembly, who had all along been blaming the State government for not conducting the civic bodies polls, has "become silent now" as the government has initiated the measures to hold the polls