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EC resents move to replace T.N. poll chief

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI June 15. The Election Commission has taken exception to the Tamil Nadu Government's "unilateral'' move to replace the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State, Mrityunjay Sarangi.

Sources told The Hindu that the State Government had sent a panel of three names to the Commission with a request that one among them be appointed CEO in the place of Mr. Sarangi.

Irked by this, the Commission is understood to have faxed a letter to the State Chief Secretary on Friday strongly disapproving of the State Government's action to replace the present CEO within a few days of the completion of the Saidapet Assembly byelection.

According to the sources, despite the fact that the re-polling was ordered in 58 polling stations in Saidapet, the Commission was satisfied with his performance as the CEO and there was no need for his replacement at this juncture.

Declining to give consent for the proposal, the Commission has told the Chief Secretary that in the (unlikely) event of the CEO being replaced, "you will be the first person to be told about it''.

Whenever the Commission decided on the replacement of the CEO of any State, it would ask the Government concerned to send a panel of names for choosing a person to be appointed CEO.

But in this case, the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to replace the CEO was informed to the Commission and its consent for appointing another CEO was sought. Pointing out that this would send wrong signals, the Commission has conveyed its displeasure to the Chief Secretary.

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