BBMP polls: High command wary of CM Siddaramaiah’s strategy

Bengaluru: The Siddaramaiah government’s efforts to get the BBMP polls postponed on one pretext or the other do not seem to have gone down well with the party top brass. Realising this, the state government suddenly changed its stand and decided to withdraw its petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking clarification on the time span for holding the polls.

Senior leaders have taken note of the Supreme Court’s earlier directive to the state election commission to go ahead with the elections and have expressed reservations over the government’s move to stall the polls. On realising this, state leaders including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seem to have developed cold feet over continuing the legal battle against holding the polls.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader in Delhi disclosed that the government’s enthusiasm to postpone elections and divide BBMP into five parts has not caught Delhi leaders’ imagination.

“They say the experiment of carving out new corporations in Delhi failed miserably, it only helped other parties consolidate their position in the national capital. They fear something similar could happen in BBMP if the division of city is allowed. Instead, they want the city’s administration be be tightened and streamlined. Instead of dividing the city, a united Bengaluru can be administered effectively if the loopholes are tackled,” the source explained.

These leaders wonder why the Congress party should send wrong signals to people that it fears facing the elections?

“This will send a wrong message about the party leadership too. Therefore, irrespective of the outcome, Congress leaders must brace themselves for the polls,” the source claimed. Now, the government is pinning its hopes on Raj Bhavan. The BBMP amendment bill which was passed by both Houses was sent to Raj Bhavan on Friday evening for the governor’s assent.

It will be interesting to see if the state election commission will hold elections to BBMP if the amendment is signed before Monday. There is speculation that Mr Vala may tread cautiously in view of the strong protests lodged by BJP and JD (S) against the division of BBMP.