Chennai, April 8 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday appointed Sai Kumar as the new Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu ahead of the forthcoming state assembly election. He has replaced N Muruganandam.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, covering a total of 234 constituencies in the State. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.

Meanw...