Senior IPS officer N S Megharikh succeeded M N Reddi as the new police commissioner of Bengaluru on Friday.
Reddi has been promoted and posted as director-general of police (fire and emergency services).
The 55-year-old officer said his first challenge would be to ensure a free and fair BBMP polls scheduled for August 22.
Megharikh was chosen for the post at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and attended by ministers representing the City on Friday morning.
Based on his performance as ADGP (law & order), where he ensured an incident free gram panchayat polls, a decision was taken to appoint him as City police commissioner ahead of BBMP polls, sources said.
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