Divide or not? Wait for 3 months

Sources in the secretariat of the Legislative Council told Deccan Chronicle that as per rules, the upper House ought to fix a deadline not exceeding the mandatory three months. Besides, the rule book states that the committee should submit its report within three months from the date of tabling the Bill in lower House. Another rule states that the report should be submitted within three months from the date of referring the Bill to select committee. “A suitable amendment is needed to the rule book over the extension of time,” sources added.

Sources said the select committee would have five members each from the Congress and BJP and two of Janata Dal (S) depending upon their respective strength in the 75-member House. The Opposition BJP seems inclined to suggest the names of former ministers V Somanna and B Ramachandra Gowda, former deputy chairperson Vimala Gowda, Mr Ashwathnarayanagowda and Mr Siddaramanna, while Mr E Krishnappa and Mr T A Saravana of JD (S) could make it to the committee. On the other hand, there are seven contenders belonging to Congress, including minister S R Patil, former chairman Veeranna Mathikatti, former opposition leader Mr V S Ugrappa, government chief whip Mr R V Venkatesh, Mr M R Sitaram, former minister H M Revanna and Mr K Govindaraj, but only five would make it in a day or two. All three parties are likely to submit their lists to Chairman Shankarmurthy before April 30.

Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in the Council K.S. Eshwarappa did not rule out seeking more time to submit the report as members of the select committee are scheduled to visit several corporations in India and abroad and study their functioning. “The government cannot pressurize the committee to submit its report within three months. The chairman of the committee is likely to be urban development minister Vinay kumar Sorake who does not have voting right. We enjoy majority in the panel and it’s our prerogative to decide what is good for Bengaluru City,” he added.

Mr R V Venkatesh, Congress Chief Whip, said according to the rules, the select committee had to submit its report within the stipulated three months and there was no scope for extension. On the possibility of the committee going abroad, he said its chairman had powers to decide whether or not to visit corporations abroad to study functioning of smaller corporations in big cities.