Bangalore police chief shifted and Cong hand in transfer

Bangalore, April 3: Bangalore

B Jyotiprakash Mirji has been transferred from the post of commissioner today on the request of Election Commission. His replacement is Raghavendra Auradkar.

The Election Commission did not act on its own volition (in Mirji's transfer) even though in general it has certain guidelines on key officials postings during election period. The EC action came after the Congress party sent a representation to the poll panel.

And what provoked the Congress to send representation against Mirji, now? He has completed 22 months, just short of normal tenure of two years. What intrigues is that by co-incidence Mirji's predecessor Shankar Bidari is now in the Congress. Does he have any connection with the Congress complaint against Mirji?

Even though these questions have no immediate answers , there is much at stake for both the BJP and the Congress in the IT city with 28 Assembly seats, up for grabs.

Bidari and Mirji have not been known to be friends even though they belong to the same Lingayat community. They also had a common godfather in BS Yeddyurappa. The former chief minister committed one mistake of shunting out Bidari as Bangalore Police Commissioner, without promotion, and brought in Mirji in May 2011.

Shankar Bidari, who was in government service for 42 years, would be of great help to the Congress when it comes to power.

The former DGP has said he would not seek any position in the Congress and that the party knew how to utilise the services of its cadre.

"I have now joined politics to repay the love, trust and support given by the people of the State. I will sincerely and honestly do any work assigned to me by the party," Bidari had said after joining the Congress party.

According to him "it is only in the Congress party one is able to see people of all communities, caste, creed and language. It is the only party that treats everybody equally. Hence, I joined the party. The party will give opportunity to everybody based on their capacity, qualification and contribution."

OneIndia News