K'taka bypolls: FIRs against BSY for soliciting votes in name of caste

Bengaluru: Ahead of the December 5 bypolls in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has landed in trouble for his speeches soliciting votes in the name of caste.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday said two first information reports (FIR) have been registered Yediyurappa for his speeches in Gokak and Kagwad.

“Alleged speech made by B.S. Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka on caste lines in Gokak and Shiruppi village in Kagwad Assembly constituency on November 23 have been inquired into,” said Additional Chief Electoral Officer (expenditure monitoring) Priyanka Mary Francis in a statement.

The ECI charged six check post officials and suspended two of them for not checking the vehicle of Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai at Hanakere check post on November 20.

“An FIR has been registered in Maddur police station against the driver of vehicle trailing the Home Minister’s vehicle for not cooperating with the check post officials,” said Francis.

The entire team at the check post has been replaced.

Similarly, the ECI suspended four official of its static surveillance team for not properly checking the vehicle of Yediyurappa’s son B.Y. Raghavendra, a member of parliament, on November 25 at Varaha check post.