Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) treasurer and senior leader T.R. Baalu has submitted representations to the Election Commission of India, objecting to the appointments of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar and Director General of Police Sandeep Rai Rathore ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly elections.
The party sent two letters to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi, objecting to ECI orders replacing incumbent Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam with Sai Kumar, as well as G. Venkataraman with Sandeep Rai Rathore as DGP, ahead of the elections.
In one letter, Baalu objected to the ECI’s 8 April 2026 order on Kumar’s appointment, stating that it provided no reason for the change. The DMK leader said there was no clear basis for removing Muruganandam, considering no major political party had lodged complaints against him.
The ECI acknowledged receipt of Baalu’s letters Wednesday but has not assured the DMK of any action so far.
In his letter, Baalu pointed out the need for administrative continuity during the election period. The chief secretary handles day-to-day government functions while political leaders focus on elections.
“Several routine files, governance matters, court cases, and election-related issues need to be addressed in the coming weeks before the results are announced,” Baalu noted.
Muruganandam held the chief secretary post for one and a half years.
In the letter, Baalu requested the ECI to withdraw the 8 April order and restore him as chief secretary.
Regarding Sandeep Rai Rathore’s appointment, Baalu argued that it did not comply with the Supreme Court’s directions.
He said that according to the judgment in Prakash Singh vs Union of India (2006) and subsequent clarifications in 2018 and 2019, the DGP must be selected by the state government from a panel prepared by the Union Public Service Commission, and that selection had to be based on merit, seniority, length of service, and other criteria laid down by the court.
Baalu’s letter stated that while the ECI could issue directions under Article 324 of the Constitution to ensure free and fair elections and maintain law and order, it could appoint an officer only as DGP (in-charge)—not a regular appointee—until the election process was complete. In some other states, similar appointment orders by the ECI have limited the appointments to the election period.
DMK leader T.R. Baalu, thus, requested the ECI to issue a corrigendum clarifying that Sandeep Rai Rathore’s appointment was only as DGP (in-charge) until the conclusion of the polls. The DMK leader said this would help avoid legal complications and ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions, with the state government taking up the regular appointment process after the election results.
Earlier, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin criticised the transfers as politically motivated. He claimed that the ECI was acting at the behest of the BJP and questioned the choice of Sai Kumar due to his past association with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
However, TVK leader Vijay had urged the ECI to transfer several top officials, including the chief secretary, to ensure free and fair elections. The TVK, along with the AIADMK, accused the DMK of misusing official machinery for electoral campaigning advantages.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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