Polls or division? Big day today in Bengaluru
The State Election Commission will announce the calendar of events for the BBMP elections
Update: 2015-04-20 05:32 GMT
BENGALURU: The State Election Commission will announce the calendar of events for the BBMP elections on Monday evening, putting itself in direct confrontation with the Congress-led state government, which has called for a special one-day legislature session on Monday to pass a bill to facilitate the trifurcation of the local body. On an action-filled Monday, the Karnataka High Court will also hear a petition on the trifurcation and elections to the BBMP.
“The high court has already ordered the State Election Commission to come out with the schedule of polls, and Monday’s announcement will adhere to the court’s directions. We will also follow any further orders from the high court division bench, which is hearing the case on Monday,” a highly placed source in the SEC told Deccan Chronicle. The SEC had postponed a media briefing, which was reportedly organised to announce the poll schedule, from Friday to Monday. Congress sources said that the SEC is bound by the high court order, lest it would be in contempt of court.
The special joint session of the legislature is likely to be stormy with the opposition BJP and JD(S) planning to defeat the bill to amend the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act in the Upper House, where they enjoy the majority.
The BJP and some NGOs are also likely to approach the Supreme Court, questioning the state government’s decision to supercede the BBMP. “Such a decision can be taken only if a civic body has over six months of its term left. But in this case, the government decided at the very end of the BBMP Council’s tenure, which violates relevant laws,” sources said.