YSRCP criticises TDP for moving court against transfers of top cops by ECI

YSR Congress Party general secretary Nagireddy criticised Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government in the state for approaching the Andhra Pradesh High Court regarding the transfers of three IPS officers by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Calling the ECI an autonomous body, the YSRCP leader said that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo Naidu thinks himself as "king of Andhra Pradesh".

"In democracy, Election Commission is an autonomous body. Nobody can go against the Election Commission decisions but one pity thing the TDP government did is that they directly went to the High Court," Nagireddy told ANI.

He added, "The EC has just relieved the police officers but Naidu feels that he is above the constitutional laws and he thinks himself as a king to Andhra Pradesh."

This came after Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government filed a petition in Andhra Pradesh High Court challenging the orders of the EC transferring three IPS officers on Tuesday night.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court observed that it cannot interfere in the orders of the ECI regarding the transfers of top cops in the state.

The ECI had recently ordered the transfer of Andhra Pradesh DG (Intelligence), and SPs of Kadapa and Srikakulam.

Senior advocate D Prakash Reddy argued in support of ECI. Advocate General D Srinivas, who represented the state government, argued that the ECI has no right to transfer DG (Intelligence), who has no connection with election duties.

The High Court bench led by Justice Praveen Kumar, heard arguments of both the parties and observed that it cannot interfere in ECI's orders.

The election to 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to be held on April 11 simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.