A dispute over the scrutiny of a nomination paper in a constituency where AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami is contesting escalated into a heated exchange between AIADMK and DMK representatives, according to reports.
AIADMK sought rejection of the DMK candidate’s nomination, citing issues in the filing. As arguments intensified, senior officials intervened, and calls were reportedly made to the election authorities in Chennai.
The report further claims that a call from the Chief Secretary’s office followed, after which the DMK candidate’s nomination was declared accepted. Similar issues were said to have surfaced in other places as well, with allegations that officials acted in DMK’s favour.
In response, opposition parties including AIADMK and BJP reportedly sent more than 20 complaints to the Chief Election Commissioner and also made multiple calls, alleging that pro-DMK officials were not adhering to the law and questioning whether elections in Tamil Nadu could be conducted fairly.
Following this, the Chief Election Commissioner and the two other Election Commissioners held an urgent late-night discussion and directed the State Chief Electoral Officer to send a list of IAS officers from Tamil Nadu. From the list, 1990-batch IAS officer Sai Kumar was appointed Chief Secretary, replacing Muruganandam. The Commission also reportedly ordered that Muruganandam should not be posted to any election-related position.
