Will oppose bill on BBMP trifurcation: BJP

Bengaluru: The opposition BJP has decided to attend the special session on April 20 and oppose the state government’s decision to bring in a bill to trifurcate Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

After the party core committee meeting on Friday, BJP state president Pralhad Joshi said that the party will take part in the session to make known its opposition to the government’s move.

On the JD(S) decision to boycott the session, he said that the BJP leaders have spoken to JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy and requested him to withdraw the boycott call. “We requested Mr Kumaraswamy to join us in this fight,” Mr Joshi said.

The government is trying to pass the trifurcation bill to postpone the elections. “If the government is keen, it can trifurcate the local body even after the polls. The BJP will move a contempt petition against the government if it postpones the elections. We have requested the State Election Commission to announce the calendar of events for the local body polls,” Mr Joshi said.

Opposition leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar said that the BJP will vote against the proposed bill. Earlier in the day, BJP leaders sat on a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on MG Road.

Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar criticised the government for not calling a special session to discuss burning issues concerning farmers.

“If the government calls a special session to discuss farmers’ issues, the party will appreciate the Chief Minister’s decision and support it. But we will oppose the present session called to divide the BBMP,” he said.

“The government has constituted a committee headed by former Chief Secretary B.S. Patil on BBMP trifurcation, but it is yet to submit the final report. The government has taken the decision based on an interim report,” Mr. Shettar said.

BJP state president Pralhad Joshi, former deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok and other leaders took part in the protest.