BBMP election: not possible for now!

Though 225 wards are finalised, the draft list of reservation is yet to be published

BBMP election: not possible for now!

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

BENGALURU: The possibility of holding elections for the Bruhat Bengaluru Metropolitan Corporation (BBMP) is slim for now.

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Transport Minister Ramalingareddy have been saying since coming to power that they will hold elections to BBMP by December. However, the necessary processes were not completed on time. This backlog is said to be due to non-submission of the caste census report to the government for allocating reservation.

 It is said that elections to local bodies cannot be held for six months before and after the general elections. The Lok Sabha term will end in May 2004 and the BBMP election process should be completed six months before that. If the election process is to be completed by December, the election notification should be published one and a half months before. Before that, one month is required to complete the processes including voter list, appointment of officials.

 What is the confusion?: 

Reservation of 225 wards under BBMP is given to 10 categories. 24.10 per cent (54–55 wards) for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; 34.17% should be given to Backward Classes (OBC). 77 wards are to be reserved for Backward Category – A (BCA) and 11 wards for Backward Category – B category. But according to the current calculation, Bengaluru does not have that level of population if so many ward reserves are to be given to OBCs. Thus, it is said that there is confusion in fixing the reservation.

The State Commission for Backward Classes has not yet submitted the caste census report to the government. Once it is submitted to the government, the process of discussion and acceptance should be over. Then BBMP Ward Reservation should be fixed accordingly. A minimum of 15 days is required for draft list, final list notification.

 No interest: 

'BBMP has completed three years without elected representatives. However, important leaders of political parties are not interested in holding elections. He is of the opinion that the administration of local bodies should be done according to the wishes of MLAs and Ministers. Therefore, they are making excuses one after the other,' complain corporator aspirants in Congress and BJP.

 Problem in reservation: Ramalingareddy

 There is no clarity about OBC reservation for ward reservation. Thus, caste reporting is required. Otherwise, there will be a problem in the Supreme Court and other courts. As the Supreme Court has made everything normal, elections have been held in Maharashtra in the same way. Caste census report in Madhya Pradesh. So, we are also waiting for the report. Transport Minister Ramalingareddy said that all reservation confusions should be clarified.

'Preparation is possible in a month'

 Preparations for BBMP elections can be completed in a month. After ward reservation is finalized, voter list should be prepared ward wise. As the ward is redistributed, the draft voter list should be prepared and then finalised. State Election Commission Commissioner B. should finalize the officers for the election. Basavaraju said.

 After the voter list is finalised, the election date should be fixed and notification should be issued. This notification should be issued one month before the polling. Overall, it takes at least two months. There is no need to complete the BBMP elections within six months of the Lok Sabha elections. However, a date should be fixed so that it does not become a problem. He informed that if the Lok Sabha elections are held in May, the election process here should be completed within one month before the notification is issued.

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