Tamil Nadu gets new DGP Elections, SEC

The development comes in the wake of the DMK, the principal opposition party demanding transfer of DGP TK Rajendran and a few other District Collectors. Transfer of senior officials has always been a norm for the EC.

“TK Rajendran will not be associated in any manner regarding the election process. Ashutosh Shukla will not report to the state DGP. All police officers connected with the poll process will report to Ashutosh Shukla (DGP elections),” the government order issued by the Election Commission secretary Malay Malick read.

Interestingly, Shukla had earlier replaced Rajendran as City Police Commissioner during the 2016 assembly polls and in a similar manner, the EC has again brought in Shukla as the DGP Elections. However, Rajendran will continue as state DGP over non-election duty. In another significant move, the State government appointed the registrar of cooperative societies R Palaniswamy as State Election Commissioner. Palaniswamy is likely to conduct the local body polls in two months’ time, informed Secretariat sources said.