Bangalore police declined to provide security cover for IPL till May 3 and advised the organisers to hold all matches after May 4.

"Bangalore City police will not be in a position to give security for IPL matches until May 3 in view of our commitments regarding Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka on April 23 and April 30," Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said.

In a letter addressed to Royal Challengers, the local team owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, he said police will not be able to provide security for matches from May 15 to 18 in view of counting of votes on May 16.

However, Bidari said security could be provided if matches are played on May 4, 7, 10, 11, 14 19 and 20, suggesting the organisers to reschedule the dates.

As per the earlier schedule drawn prior to the announcement of Lok Sabha polls, matches were supposed to be played on April 14, 19, 23 and May 3, 7, 15 and 19.

V Shashikanth, Royal Challengers representative, had held talks with the police commissioner yesterday on the security issue.