The Election Commission on Friday postponed to May three, by-elections to Budhni assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh from where Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan is contesting.

The decision has been taken following complaints about large-scale violations of various provisions of the model code of conduct by many political parties and candidates, EC sources said.

The postponement came a day after EC ordered the transfer of Sehore District Collector S K Mishra against whom complaints were received of poor election management. As per the current schedule, the polls were to be held on April 24.

On the basis of the complaints, the Commission had deputed one of its senior officers Rajesh Aggarwal to conduct an inquiry into the charges against Mishra and the district superintendent of police.

The Commission had ordered the transfer of DC and the Superintendent of Police of the district on the basis of the inquiry report. The Commission also withdrew two observers deployed in the constituency and replaced them with the two special observers, the EC sources added.