Upper House Sends BBMP Bill to Joint Select Panel

BENGALURU: The Legislative Council on Monday managed to refer the Bill to provide for the trifurcation of Bengaluru's civic body to a joint select committee of the Legislature amid protests by the Congress-led government.

Council Chairman DH Shankaramurthy conceded the demand by the BJP-JD(S) to refer the Bill to the joint select committee in spite of strong protests by Law Minister TB Jayachandra. The chairman, who was earlier a BJP member, said the rules very much provided for referring the Bill to the select committee.

This decision of the Council Chairman left the government shocked because the Bill had been cleared by the Legislative Assembly last week. The government was, in fact, expecting the Bill to be defeated in the Council as the BJP and JD(S) members outnumber those of the Congress. But the Opposition had other plans.

It appeared dramatic as the Chairman adjourned the House sine die after announcing his decision even as the Law Minister was heard protesting the decision.

The House will now form the select committee and ask it to submit its views on the Bill within a specified time. By tradition, it is headed by the minister who pilots the Bill. In this case, the Bill was presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Instead, it is likely to be headed by Urban Development Minister Vinaykumar Sorake.

Later, a visibly upset Chief Minister said it was for the first time in his political career he has witnessed such an unfair development in the Council.The Council Chairman, he said, had broken the tradition by referring the Bill to the select committee against the wishes of the government.

Whether the Bill survives the Select Committee or not and whether Bengaluru is trifurcated as wished by the CM or not, the government and the State Election Commission will have little choice expect hold the civic polls in six months.