Election Commission removes Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, appoints M Sai Kumar, with immediate affect.
Election Commission of India (PTI File)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday removed Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam and appointed senior IAS officer M Sai Kumar as the new Chief Secretary. With just two weeks left to the Assembly elections in the state, ECI has ordered that the officers being transferred out are not to be posted in any election related duties.
As per the official notice, the orders are to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report related to the joining is to be submitted with the ECI by 6 pm today.
The Chief Secretary is the highest-ranking officer in the Government of Tamil Nadu, serving as the head of the state administration and the secretariat.
Meanwhile, ECI also directed the Chief Secretary to appoint senior IPS officer Sandeep Mittal as Director General of Police (Armed Police and Vigilance and Anti-Corruption).
Tamil Nadu Elections
Tamil Nadu is gearing up for a high-stakes electoral battle, with the single-phase assembly polls set to take place on April 23 and the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
The main contest is likely to be between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The SPA, headed by the DMK, also includes the Congress, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). On the other side, the NDA is being led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as key allies.
Adding a new dimension to the political landscape, actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to make his electoral debut with his party, TVK. His entry is expected to turn the assembly polls into a three-way contest, potentially altering traditional voting patterns and alliances in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu, India, India
April 08, 2026, 15:56 IST
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