Chennai Commissioner of Police S George has been transferred ahead of the RK Nagar bye-elections on April 12.
The Election Commission on Saturday ordered Commissioner George’s transfer.
Karan Singha has been posted as the new Commission of Police as per an order from the government.
George's transfer comes in the wake of opposition party, the DMK urging the Election Commission to move George out from the post for the “smooth conduct of the poll”.
A delegation comprising MPs TKS Elangovan, RS Bharathi and Tiruchi Siva had filed a petition before the EC on March 17. Alleging that George favoured AIADMK (Amma)’s VK Sasikala, the DMK had cited the ruckus in the Tamil Nadu Assembly during the trust vote of the Edappadi Palaniswami government and the violence during the jallikattu protests as reasons for his transfer. The party also alleged that George aspired to be elevated to DGP of Tamil Nadu, a post that is currently vacant.
The DMK, in its petition, had also demanded that the Returning Officer be transferred ahead of the bye-polls.
RK Nagar, a North Chennai constituency, goes to polls on April 12. The bye-election was necessitated following the demise of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. It will see a multi-cornered battle with the DMK, BJP, Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar, VK Sasikala’s AIADMK (Amma) and O Panneerselvam’s AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) contesting.