Promotions and transfers: Before poll verdict, officials ‘make hay while sun shines’

While the Election Commission has relaxed the file works related to state administration, the administrative works have picked up pace, with files on transfer and promotion being shuffled around the fastest.

The government departments particularly local administration, rural development and forest department have intensified transfers and promotions of officials. There are also unconfirmed reports that those close to the political masters are raking in a lot of moolah from officials wanting transfers and promotions.

But, the promotions related to senior police and revenue officials have been put on hold. Several officers in the ranks of SPs, IGs and district revenue official transfers are on hold as these department staff are directly involved with the election work.

A majority of the officials ranging from police inspectors to IAS officers had little option but to wait and watch, hoping for a better decision to be taken in a politically fluid Tamil Nadu. In case there is a regime change, a few officers close to the ruling party may also opt for retirement. Sources say that a top official in the public information department had already submitted his resignation, especially when chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is sitting on a wafer-thin margin.