BENGALURU: The state government on Thursday made a futile bid to convince leaders of BJP and Janata Dal (S) in the Legislative Council to give up their demand that The KMC (Amendment) Bill, 2015, be referred to a select committee.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, law and parliamentary affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra, rural development and panchayat raj minister H.K. Patil, Congress Chief Whip in the Legislative Council R.V. Venkatesh, higher education minister R.V. Deshpande and MLCs H.M. Revanna and V.S. Ugrappa came to Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy’s chamber to hold talks with leaders of Opposition parties including K.S. Eshwarappa, BJP Chief Whip Capt Ganesh Karnik and JD (S) floor leader Basavaraja Horatti. Though the meeting lasted for about an hour, all efforts by Mr Siddaramaiah and his team went in vain.
According to sources, Mr Siddaramaiah appealed to Mr Eshwarappa and Mr Horatti to give up their demand for a select committee and requested them to approve the Bill. The CM also explained the circumstances under which the government intended to carve three new corporations in place of BBMP.
However, the opposition leaders stuck to their stand and categorically stated that they would not budge to any pressure by the ruling party. At this juncture, Mr Siddaramaiah told them to defeat the bill in the Council so that it could be tabled afresh in the Assembly.
Sources said BJP leaders received instructions from central leaders that they should stick to their demand to refer the bill to a select committee and thus emulate the Congress’ strategy in Rajya Sabha. Going by numbers, both BJP and Congress would have five members in the select committee and JD(S), perhaps two. Though minister for urban development would head the committee, he would not have any voting rights.
And, in the committee, BJP and JD(S) would be in majority and they could insist on convening the meeting as per their convenience. The ruling party would not have any control over this committee since the BJP and JD(S) have more members than Congress.
As per the rules, the committee should submit its report within three months but the time could be extended upon request of its members. “Understanding all these problems, the state government is bent upon getting this bill either approved or defeated in the Council,” sources added.
