BJP for central observers in Mandya, Hassan, Tumkur

The BJP has sought the Election Commission to appoint central observers to Mandya, Hassan and Tumkur Lok Sabha constituencies, where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s kin are contesting the upcoming elections.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa has raised apprehensions about Kumaraswamy misusing the official machinery to suit the needs of his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Mandya, his father H D Deve Gowda in Tumkur and his nephew Prajwal Revanna in Hassan.

“I hope the ECI is aware of the volatility of elections in these three constituencies. Many hurdles were created on the day Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh filed her nomination papers in Mandya. Kumaraswamy and his party leaders have a track record of misusing the official machinery in the past. As we approach the polling day, things may go wayward, forcing people to suspect the conduct of elections in a free and fair manner in these constituencies,” states the letter.

Stating that there were precedents of the ECI appointing special central observers, Yeddyurappa has urged the Commission to appoint the officers to guide and supervise the ground-level officials in conducting the elections.

Transfers sought

Meanwhile, Rajeev Chandrasekhar and MLA Suresh Kumar submitted a memorandum to the chief electoral officer Sanjiv Kumar seeking the immediate transfer of 13 IAS and IPS officers. The party has said that these officers were biased and hence would undermine free and fair voting.

The duo have sought the transfers of BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad; DC Bengaluru Rural, Karigowda; DC Bengaluru, Vijayshankar; DC Hassan, Alam Pasha, SP Hassan, Prakash Gowda; SP Mandya Shiva Prakash Devaraju;
Bidar DC, H C Mahadeva; Kalaburagi DC, Venkatesh Kumar; Kalaburagi SP Lada Martin Marbaniang; ADC Kalaburagi, T Yogesh; DCP Bangalore North, Shashikanth; and Excise DCs of Tumkur, Mandya, Hassan and Ramanagara.

They have also sought the transfer of all police and government officials serving in their positions for the last three months.