DMK government has failed to follow proper protocol in DGP appointment, says Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday charged that the DMK government had failed to follow the standard protocol in the process of appointing the new Director-General of Police (DGP) in place of the current DGP Shankar Jiwal, who will retire at the end of August.

Resuming his State-wide Makkalai Kappom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom campaign at Tiruverumbur here, Mr. Palaniswami said that just a few days were left for the incumbent DGP to retire from service. As per the protocol, the State governments were required to send the names of eligible police officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at least three months before the retirement of the incumbent officer. One of them would be appointed as the new DGP. But the DMK government was yet to send the list of eligible officers. There was something fishy there, and there was a hidden agenda behind the delay, he alleged.

At a time when the law and order situation in the State was deteriorating day by day, it was not good for the State government to keep the appointment process in abeyance. The government owed an explanation to the people, Mr. Palaniswami said.

Coming down heavily on the DMK government over the poor handling of law and order, the Leader of the Opposition said crimes against women and children occurred every day. The government had failed to curb the illegal sale of drugs, which was rampant in the different parts of the State, thereby leading to an increase in crime rate. There was no safety for citizens or policemen. He recalled how a police officer was murdered at Madathukulam a few weeks ago. “Law and order has collapsed. The DMK government has become ineffective and must be removed from power in the 2026 Assembly election,” he asserted.

Deputy CM ‘fan club’

Mr. Palaniswami said Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who held an important portfolio in the Cabinet, had been busy donning the role of “president of Deputy Chief Minister Udhyanidhi Stalin’s fan club” instead of concentrating on his ministerial duties. “A number of high schools were upgraded into higher secondary schools during the AIADMK regime to provide opportunity for the poor and marginalised students to get education. But, Mr. Poyyamozhi had criticised in the State Assembly that the AIADMK unnecessarily opened many schools. Was it wrong to open and upgrade schools?” the former Chief Minister asked.

Mr. Palaniswami added that the DMK government had failed to deliver good governance in all aspects and had lost the confidence of people. The DMK regime, at the end of its term in office, was taking steps to include about 30 lakh beneficiaries under the Mahalir Urimai Thogai scheme by relaxing eligibility norms. This was a ploy to get more votes, he alleged.