During the 2011 reshuffling of leading officials in local Party committees, 73 Communist Party of China (CPC) officials were penalized for discipline violations, said the Party's top disciplinary watchdog in a statement on January 4, 2012.

According to the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), 52 cases regarding "irregularities" were investigated during the reshuffling, resulting in the punishment of 73 officials.

Last year, leading officials in CPC committees at the provincial, municipal, county and township levels were reshuffled. The CCDI vowed to boost disciplinary measures to ensure that only ethically sound officials would be promoted.