The AIADMK has criticized the Election Commission’s rampant transfers of top police officials and bureaucrats, calling it a “knee jerk reaction” to petitions and complaints from “vested interests.”

Nine district collectors, seven Superintendents of Police, five Deputy Superintendents of Police, a District Revenue Officer, among others have been transferred till date. Also transferred were the Inspector General of Police (Intelligence), Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), and the Commissioner of Police (Greater Chennai).

Accusing that the complaints were from the DMK and Congress parties, the AIADMK, in its petition to Nazim Zaidi, the Chief Election Commissioner of India, said that with barely a fortnight left for elections, such large-scale transfers will hardly help “the smooth conduct of the polls.”

Expressing its shock at the abrupt transfers based merely on complaints, and without conducting any background checks on the officials, the AIADMK pointed out that the DMK-Congress alliance had made false allegations on the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamilnadu, Rajesh Lakhoni himself.

The party has urged the Election Commission of India to revoke the transfers due to the fact that only a few more days remain for the polls.