Karnataka: Early Assembly polls behind shock transfer of top cops?

Bengaluru: Quick on the heels of the shock transfer, Monday, of top cop Praveen Sood from his post as city Police Commissioner and that of additional commissioner of police, Hemanth Nimbalkar -  transferred on Tuesday but not given a post – alongside the transfer of at least 9 other IPS officers in the space of 48 hours, sources within government have indicated that it had nothing to do with either the pro-Kannada agitation or the Bantwal communal violence. 

Instead, the key police transfers have a direct link to plans by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to hold assembly elections as early as December 2017, reliable sources told this newspaper.

Although this runs contrary to repeated claims by the chief minister that there will be no early polls, top sources in the government said that the transfers were effected to lay the groundwork for elections that could be held in little over four months.

The Dakshina Kannada communal violence which led to the transfer of senior police officer M.N. Reddi, and other police officials was deemed necessary as the chief minister, after taking over the charge of the home ministry, had to crack the whip. 

But, the transfers planned and effected since Monday was a move to prepare for the coming polls. "Chief Minister is closeted with his team and based on the inputs given by them, he is effecting these transfers. He is making preparations for the elections," sources said.

Asked why he would make preparations for elections due next year, sources said that after the monsoon played truant, many senior Congress leaders from Karnataka and Delhi had advised the chief ministers to call for early elections in December. "So, he is thinking on that lines. Reservoirs have not reached the level of last year, let alone getting filled to the brim. To avoid severe backlash next April- May, he might call for elections. So he is making postings and other important administrative adjustments from now," sources explained. 

Another round of reshuffles in the police force can be expected once the incumbent DG and IG R.K. Datta retires in October.