Yeddyurappa asks EC to appoint central observers for Mandya,

The BJP's Karnataka unit Thursday requested the Election Commission to appoint central observers in Mandya, Hassan and Tumkur Lok Sabha seats, as it suspects that Chief Minister H DKumaraswamy would misuse the state machinery to suit the electoral needs of his son, nephew and father.

Unit chief B S Yeddyurappa in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner has pointed out that there are precedents of the election commission appointing special central observers in addition to the present official set up in highlyvolatile constituencies.

"In the wake of heat being generated in the elections in these three constituencies owing to high profile contestants, my sincere request is the commission should appoint central observer to each of the constituencies to guide and supervise ground level officials in conducting elections impartially," Yeddyurappa said in his letter.

"I hope the CEC will take cognizance of my request and post senior officials as observers in these three constituencies," the former chief minister said.

While Kumaraswamy's father and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda is JD(S) candidate from Tumkur, his son NikhilKumaraswamy and elder brother H D Revanna's son Prajwal areparty candidates from Mandya and Hassan Lok Sabha seats respectively.

Highlighting the volatility of elections in Mandya, Hassan and Tumkur Lok Sabha constituencies, Yeddyurappa alleged there was every possibility ofKumaraswamy misusing the state official machinery to suit the electoral needs of his son, nephew and father in these three constituencies.

Pointing out that hurdles were created on the day of filing of papers by independent candidate Sumalathain Mandya Lok Sabha seat, he said "Kumaraswamy and his party leaders have a track record of allegedly misutilising theofficial machinery in the past."