English
English
English
Avinash Kumar posted as Inspector General Of Police, Intelligence (Img: Internet)
Chennai: With only three days remaining for the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission of India has initiated another major reshuffle of senior bureaucrats.
In its latest directive, the poll body replaced the state’s Inspector General (Intelligence) with IPS officer Avinash Kumar. Senior IPS officer K.A. Senthil Velan has been barred from election-related duties and appoint Avinash Kumar in his place with immediate effect.
Free LPG Cylinders, Rs 2,000 For Women: BJP unveils its manifesto for Tamil Nadu polls
The latest decision is part of a broader pattern of administrative reshuffles in recent weeks. Over the past fortnight, at least six major transfers involving senior IAS and IPS officers have been carried out in the state.
Earlier, the Commission replaced the state Home Secretary Deeraj Kumar with K Manivasan. Before that, four other high-profile changes were made, including the transfer of the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), Vigilance and Anti-Corruption head, and the Chennai Police Commissioner.
These frequent changes have drawn significant attention due to their timing and scale.
The Intelligence IG holds a critical position in the state’s administrative structure, handling sensitive inputs related to law and order and election monitoring. The sudden change, close to polling day, highlights the Commission’s focus on ensuring strict oversight.
Officials said the move was part of ongoing efforts to maintain neutrality and enforce the Model Code of Conduct during the election period.
Opposition parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Indian National Congress, have criticised the Election Commission’s actions.
They allege that the repeated transfers are politically motivated and may influence the electoral process in favour of the BJP-AIADMK alliance. Leaders have questioned why similar changes were not seen in other poll-bound states.
Opposition leaders pointed out that recent elections in Assam and Bihar did not witness comparable reshuffles of top officials such as the Chief Secretary or DGP.
EC orders key IAS-IPS reshuffle in Tamil Nadu ahead of 2026 assembly elections
They argue that the selective approach raises concerns about consistency in the Commission’s decisions across different states.
The developments have sparked a wider debate over the role and impartiality of the Election Commission. Some political observers warn that frequent administrative interventions close to polling day could undermine public trust.
While the Commission has not responded in detail to the allegations, it has maintained that all decisions are aimed at ensuring free and fair elections.
