Karnataka BJP urges EC to transfer IPS officer after Congress fields his wife from Uttara Kannada seat

BJP MLC C Narayanaswamy said that they have urged the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka to depute Hemant Nimbalkar to another state “as he may use his power or influence in the general elections”.

Senior IPS officer Hemant Nimbalkar (left) and his wife Anjali Nimbalkar (right), who had contested from the Khanapur seat in the last Assembly elections, was defeated by Vithal Halagekar of the BJP.

The state unit of the BJP on Wednesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India, demanding the immediate transfer of senior IPS officer Hemant Nimbalkar whose wife is contesting from the Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha seat as a Congress candidate.

In a letter, the BJP demanded to relieve Nimbalkar from all election related works as “it would be a conflict of interest”. Presently, Nimbalkar is serving as commissioner of the Department of the Information and Public Relations. His appointment came after the Congress government in Karnataka came to power. Anjali Nimbalkar, who had contested from the Khanapur seat in the last Assembly elections, was defeated by Vithal Halagekar of the BJP.

After submitting the complaint, BJP MLC C Narayanaswamy said that they have urged the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka to depute Nimbalkar to another state “as he may use his power or influence in the general elections”.

“He is a highly influential IPS officer and his relationship with the candidate may influence other IPS officers and the police who have been deputed for election work. Also, there has been information of Nimbalkar misusing his office to seek votes for his wife. If he continues in the same post, he will use his influence to favour the Congress party and its candidates,” the BJP said in its complaint.

The BJP also expressed its apprehension that the police department may use its powers to include the names of party workers in the rowdy-sheet to harass and may lead to externment orders.

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