Bengaluru: There seems to be no end to the speculations regarding the elections to 12 standing committees which have been long overdue. As per the Karnataka Municipal Council Act, which governs the civic body, the term of the standing committee is one year.
Like the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the new heads of the 12 standing committees have to be elected after the Mayor assumes office. But it is almost three months since Gangambike Mallikarjun assumed office as Mayor, and this is affecting the development of the city, including drafting of the budget.
While the elections to the 12 standing committees were scheduled to be held on December 14, they were stalled due to a ruckus created by BJP and JD(S) councillors.
There seems to be no consensus over sharing of standing committee posts between the Congress and JD(S). While JD(S) corporator of Vrushabavathi Nagar Hemalatha Gopalaiah has already assumed office of the Standing Committee of Taxation and Finance, the Congress wants the post to be given to Shanthinagar councillor P. Sowmya Shivakumar. Sowmya lost the race for Mayor’s post and Congress now wants to mollify her by giving this key post.
Now it is said that elections may be held on January 5. But as per rules, the corporators should be given notice seven days in advance. But they have not been got any notice yet.
Ms Gangambike, she said, “Elections had to be postponed due to the ruckus created by the Bharatiya Janata Party. We will be holding the elections soon.”
On the clash between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) over sharing of standing committees, she maintained that the party leaders had already taken care of it and elections would be held at the earliest.
