Madurai gets yet another collector

While the exact reason for Karthikeyan’s transfer is not known, it is being said that the CM’s son may be behind this, too. The transfer order merely says Karthikeyan has been “granted leave”, without assigning him a post.

It is said that the collector was in Madurai for just three days. Karthikeyan had gone home to Erode to bring his family, when he was “asked to go on leave”.

Udayachandran’s transfer on February 21 had kicked up a storm with the chiefs of the three dalit panchayats, Pappapatti, Keeripatti and Nataamangalam threatening to resign in protest. Udayachandran had played a key role in ensuring polls to the three panchayats were held in October last year as well as persuading the Thevars not to pressurise their dalit presidents to quit as in the past.

However, in the wake of rumours that Udayachandran “did not get along well” with Azhagiri, he was transferred to Erode and Karthi-

keyan, who was the collector there, brought to Madurai. When Karthikeyan took charge, Udayachandran organised a meeting with the panchayat chiefs, assuring them that the new collector would “continue the good work,” stalling their move to quit. Karthikeyan had reportedly toured the three panchayats to reassure villagers.