Left parties demand Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary's removal, question CM's silence on circular

Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary P. Shanmugam on Saturday demanded the removal of Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar, asserting that the officer was serving on an extension and should be replaced by a new appointee.

Speaking at a demonstration in Chennai, Mr. Shanmugam also questioned the necessity of granting an extension to Mr. Sai Kumar, noting that the latter had been appointed by the Election Commission of India rather than the State government. “What is the need to give him an extension? Appoint another officer of your choice in his place. We do not expect him to be a Communist,” he said.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India State secretary M. Veerapandian urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to break his silence on a circular issued by the Chief Secretary. The circular reportedly advised officials to prevent “students and youth from succumbing to the urge” to participate in protests organised by the Left parties and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). “The Chief Secretary is only an officer. The Chief Minister should take responsibility for it,” Mr. Veerapandian said.

Mr. Shanmugam also condemned the tahsildar of Guziliamparai for directing officials to collect details of members of Left parties. He asked whether Mr. Vijay intended to run the government with the support of the Left parties or with that of officials and the Chief Secretary.

“The CPI and CPI(M) extended support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government. Were the Chief Secretary and other officials not aware of this fact? We cannot tolerate the actions of officials. The government should put an end to the issue in a smooth manner,” he said, while also questioning why the Directorate of Collegiate Education had been asked to provide an explanation, while Mr. Sai Kumar had been spared despite being responsible for the circular.

Mr. Veerapandian described the Chief Secretary’s circular as reflecting the mindset of the British colonial government, which sought to prevent protests against its rule. “The Chief Secretary seems to forget that India is a democracy and everyone has the right to protest,” he added.

Leading a CPI(M) protest in Madurai, MP Su. Venkatesan condemned the Chief Secretary for curbing the students’ democratic right to protest against State policies and decisions. He termed the circular a dangerous encroachment on democratic freedoms and also condemned the State administration’s actions following nationwide student demonstrations.

“If an order issued by Delhi university became the outcome of a meeting led by the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, the Tamil Nadu government must clarify who is responsible for it. Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar must take responsibility for this issue. Suspicions have arisen as to whether the BJP and RSS directives have officially or unofficially penetrated the Tamil Nadu administration. If this is true, the Tamil Nadu administration is moving in a very dangerous direction,” he said.

The developments come amid ongoing political friction between the Left parties and the State administration over the handling of student protests. The Chief Secretary has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.