Bangalore: Complying with an Election Commission directive, the BJP government in Karnataka on Friday transferred Bangalore Police Commissioner BG Jyothiprakash Mirji ahead of the May 5 Assembly elections. Home Secretary Raghavendra H Auradkar, who was posted in his place, took over charge.
According to sources, the Commission had shot down a panel of three names suggested by the state government and insisted on Auradkar's appointment. "This order is issued as per the direction of Election Commission of India for smooth conduct of elections in a free and fair manner", an official notification said.
Soon after taking charge, Auradkar sought cooperation of all including political parties for "free, fair and smooth" conduct of the polls. "Upholding the rule of law will be the main priority," he said.
Mirji said he was neither disappointed nor unhappy as being a government servant, he had assumed and relinquished charge many times during his 37 years service.
On Wednesday, the government had transferred several IPS officers citing similar ground.
The Election Commission had on Thursday also banned the publication or broadcast of any exit poll during the period of Assembly elections in Karnataka.
The EC also prohibited the display of any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, during the period of 48 hours before end of polling on May 5.
"Election matter has been defined as any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election, violation of which under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, is punishable with imprisonment up to a period of two years, or with fine or both," the EC said in an order issued on Thursday.
Karnataka will go to polls on May 5 to elect its 224-member Assembly and counting of votes will be held on May 8.
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