The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday said two first information reports (FIRs) have been registered against Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa over his speeches that allegedly solicited votes in the name of caste.
"Alleged speech made by BS Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka on caste lines in Gokak and Shiruppi village in Kagwad Assembly constituencies on November 23 have been inquired into," said Additional Chief Electoral Officer (expenditure monitoring) Priyanka Mary Francis in a statement.
She said that two FIRs have been registered in relation to the speeches in Gokak and Kagwad. The EC’s statements says that Yediyurappa had appealed to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in these two regions to vote for the BJP and not for any other party. The FIRs have been registered against him at Gokak and Kagwad Town Police Stations after the JD(S) had filed a complaint against him regarding the speeches.
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.
The ECI also suspended four officials of its static surveillance team for not properly checking the vehicle of Yediyurappa's son and Shivamogga MP BY Raghavendra on November 25 at Varaha check post.
By-elections for 15 Karnataka Assembly seats are scheduled on December 5.