BBMP polls later, let’s first divide and rule Bengaluru city

Belagavi: The possibility of postponement of elections to BBMP cannot be ruled out as the state government plans to re-introduce KMC (Amendment) Bill to split BBMP into four or five entities during second half of the ongoing session of state legislature in Bengaluru.

Official sources said the state government had to table a new bill if the expert committee led by former chief secretary, Mr B S Patil recommends division of BBMP into four or five corporations for efficient administration as well as to provide basic amenities to residents of Bengaluru. The government was reportedly pressurizing the select committee to give its recommendations before the Belgavi session ends. The committee headed by Mr Patil was likely to submit its final report to the government by the end of this week.

Already, Mr Patil had made a power point presentation to members of the select committee besides batting for four to five corporations in place of BBMP. The select committee was waiting for the final report of the committee, based on which it would make its observation on division of BBMP.

Chairman of the select committee and minister for IT/BT, Mr S R Patil, said "There is confusion in the provision about the time-limit of the committee within which it has to give its report. According to rules of procedure of the state legislature, the period of three months starts from date of formation of committee. But, according to the Constitution, the panel comes into being from the day opposition party moves a motion to this effect. Since the Constitution is like the mother of all laws, the government may go by provisions in it".

Sources pointed out that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wants to take up the proposed amendment bill as well as move the court afresh seeking time to hold polls on the basis of reports submitted by the committee headed by Mr B S Patil. Once the amended bill was introduced in Assembly, the existing bill which had been stuck in the upper House, becomes defunct.

The amended bill, once approved in both Houses, would be sent to Governor Vajubhai Vala for assent. The select committee would have no relevance once it fails to submit its report within 90 days. The government could move the court with recommendations of the B S Patil committee and the select committee to seek postponement of elections, for restructuring of wards to uphold social justice.

Countdown begins for GBA

The BBMP polls may yet be postponed if the state government re-introduces the KMC (Amendment) Bill during the ongoing session of state legislature, under which the civic authority is split into four or five entities under a Greater Bengluru Authority.

Official sources said the state government could table a new bill if the expert committee led by former chief secretary, Mr B S Patil which is looking into recommendations to divide the BBMP into four or five corporations, submit its final report to the government by the end of this week. The government was reportedly pressurizing the select committee to give its recommendations before the Belgavi session ends.

Mr Patil has already made a power point presentation to members of the select committee and the chief minister. The select committee was waiting for the final report of the committee, based on which it would make its observation on a possible division of BBMP.

Sources pointed out that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wants to take up the proposed amendment bill as well as move the court afresh seeking time to hold polls on the basis of reports submitted by the committee headed by Mr B S Patil. Once the amended bill is introduced in Assembly, the existing bill which had been stuck in the upper House, becomes defunct.

BBMP to GBA this week or the next?

The amended bill, once approved in both Houses, would be sent to Governor Vajubhai Vala for assent. (The select committee would have no relevance if it fails to submit its report within 90 days.) The government could then move the court with recommendations of the B S Patil committee and the select committee to seek postponement of elections, for restructuring of wards to uphold social justice.

Interestingly, the chairman of the select committee and minister for IT/BT, Mr S R Patil believes "there is confusion in the provision about the time-limit of the committee within which it has to give its report."

"According to rules of procedure of the state legislature, the period of three months starts from date of formation of committee. But, according to the Constitution, the panel comes into being from the day opposition party moves a motion to this effect. Since the Constitution is like the mother of all laws, the government may go by provisions in it", he said.