Karuna says middle, lower level EC officials misusing power

"There is a limit for every action and it should not be exceeded", he said at a campaign meeting here yesterday.

The Chief Minister said the Central government "must reconsider the power of the EC in future, what its powers should be and to what extent it should go should be discussed with all political parties".

Karunanidhi had also taken on the EC at a meeting in Puducherry yesterday, saying that in future, "those appointed as incumbents of the Commission should be those who are upright, fair and impartial".

Karunanidhi also alleged that AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa was giving directions to the EC and was already acting as if she is the Chief Minister ahead of the April 13 Assembly polls.

The EC had transferred Additional DGP (Intelligence) M S Jaffer Sait ahead of the elections. In addition to that Jayalalithaa has also demanded the transfer of Superintendent of Police Special Branch, Chennai, C Chandrasekar, Karunanidhi said.

Maintaining that the DMK-led front would retain power in the state, Karunanidhi said, "I am the (present) Chief Minister, after counting of votes I will be Chief Minister again, and if defeated I will go home. Up to that day I am the Chief Minister".