Dividing BBMP, the big debate begins

BENGALURU: Will the state government move the Supreme Court yet again with a plea to postpone elections to BBMP as soon as the Legislative Assembly passes the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill for division of the city civic body?

Though the amendment bill was defeated in the Legislative Council on Monday, the ruling party would be able to secure the approval of the lower House in view of its strength, and forward it to Governor Vajubhai Vala for his assent.

Official sources told Deccan Chronicle that the Governor could take as much time to give his assent and even seek the opinion of legal experts on the amendment bill.

“If the Governor takes time, then the notification for conduct of elections to BBMP will be issued on August 3 as per the calendar of events announced by the State Election Commission. Under these circumstances, the government will have two options-one conduct the elections as per the schedule or move the Supreme Court seeking some more time to hold polls on various grounds,” sources added.

Sources said in case the government decides to move the apex court afresh, it would submit the report of the three-member committee headed by former chief secretary B. S. Patil on carving five new corporations and a new entity, the Greater Bengaluru Authority to replace BBMP.

Poll process will continue, says Supreme Court

In another embarrassment to the state government, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to stop the State Election Commission, saying the process to hold the BBMP elections will continue. The government had approached the apex court seeking a clarification on the SEC’s plans to issue a fresh notification for the poll.

The Supreme Court on Monday said that the process to hold the BBMP election will continue. The state government had approached the apex court seeking a clarification on the state election commission’s decision to issue a fresh notification to hold BBMP poll, as per the high court order.

The Supreme Court asked why the state government is trying to avoid the poll. Advocate for the State Election Commission, K.N. Phanindra, said that the SC was very specific and asked the state, “Why do you want to avoid the polls? One or the other day, polls have to be conducted. Since April, BBMP is functioning under an administrator. Now that the election commission is ready to issue a fresh calendar of events, it is time for a democratically elected body at the BBMP.”

The state argued that the Election Commission is planning to announce the calendar, even as the Supreme Court has granted it eight weeks.

The Supreme Court observed made it clear that the eight weeks granted was for completion of election process and not as the deadline for initiating the poll process. Later, the state sought time to file an affidavit on the problem of logistics in holding the poll. The SC adjourned the matter to Monday, but made it clear that the poll process will continue, Mr Phanindra said.