Gowda protests against EC’s decision in Mysore

JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda yesterday staged a three-hour longdemonstration in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue inMysore protesting against the Election Commission’sdecision to transfer three police officials out ofChamundeshwari assembly constituency from where hisarch-rival and former Deputy Chief MinisterSiddaramaiah is seeking re-election as a Congresscandidate.

Gowda, who is camping in Mysore for the last severaldays, campaigning for the JD (S) candidateShivabasappa, arrived at the Mahatma Gandhi’s statuein the City with a large number of supporters andsquatted in front of the statue for almost threehours.

Taking serious exception to the transfer of threepolice officials from the constituency, Gowdaquestioned the impartiality of the ElectionCommission. “I am forced to question the impartialityof the Election Commission’s observer, based on whoserecommendation police officials had been transferred”,he said.

Gowda even cited the transfer of the Returning OfficerChikkathammaiah a few days ago as reasons for viewingthe Election Commission with suspicion. JD (S)spokesperson Y S V Datta did not even hesitate to callthe Election Commission observer Raymond Peter as a“Congress party’s agent”.

The transfer of police officials comes close on theheels of Governor T N Chaturvedi shooting a letter toChief Minister H D Kumaraswamy voicing concern overthe deteriorating law and order situation in Mysore inview of the byelections to the Assembly fromChamundeshwari constituency scheduled for December 4.

With allegations of poll malpractices flying thick andfast, the Election Commission had not only ordered thetransfer of three police officials, but also divestedthe Inspector General of Police (Southern Range) frompoll duty and directed the Director General of PoliceHousing Corporation Srikumar to monitor the law andorder situation during the by-polls.The police officials transferred include DeputyCommissioner of Mysore City Police K T Balakrishna,who is considered to be close to Deve Gowda’s family.

The coalition partner of the JD (S) in Karnataka, BJPhas also taken serious exception to the ElectionCommission’s decision to interfere in the pollprocess.

BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister B SYediyurappa told reporters that the ElectionCommission was under the “duress” of Congress-ledUnited Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre.The BJP, which had not fielded its candidate, issupporting the candidate fielded by its coalitionpartner JD (S) in the by-polls.

The Election Commission’s decision to transfer policeofficials has served to rub salt into the wounds ofthe JD (S)-BJP coalition, which had already received anotice from the Election Commission for violatingelectoral code of conduct by making promises to theelectorate.

During a public rally in Mysore, Gowda’s son and ChiefMinister H D Kumaraswamy is reported to have promiseda loan of Rs 5,000 to Dalit families under aGovernment scheme. Taking serious note of theassurance, the Election Commission had ordered issueof notices to Kumaraswamy and Minister for SocialWelfare Balachandra Jharkiholi.