Tamil Nadu government asks State Election Commissioner Jothi Nirmalasamy to step down

The Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government has asked State Election Commissioner B. Jothi Nirmalasamy, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, to step down from her post.

Sources confirmed The Hindu that she was asked to step down as the State Election Commissioner. The State Election Commission is a Constitutional and autonomous body responsible for conducting free and fair elections to local self-governments.

Ms. Nirmalasamy, who is also the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission, assumed office as the State Election Commissioner in March 2024 for a five-year term. Her tenure ends in May 2029.

The tenure of the rural local bodies in 28 districts ended on January 25, 2025, while that of the nine other districts will end on October 19 this year. The tenure of urban local bodies in the State will end on March 1, 2027. The State Election Commission is taking steps to conduct elections to the local bodies after the completion of the ward delimitation exercise.

As the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission, she has been overseeing the sanctioning and mapping of wards. She also oversaw the indirect by-elections to several urban local bodies following the resignation of the mayors of a few corporations.

This development comes on the heels of the chairpersons and members of various statutory bodies and other agencies, who were appointed during the previous DMK regime, stepping down from their posts.

What the rules say

However, according to Article 243K of the Constitution of India, the State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor and shall not be removed from office except in the like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court. Further, the conditions of service shall not be varied to the State Election Commissioner’s disadvantage after appointment, subject to the provisions of any law made by the State legislature.

Ms. Nirmalasamy has not taken a decision on the matter as yet, sources added.