BBMP polls: All eyes on Karnataka High Court ruling today

BENGALURU: The state government and Opposition parties will intensely track proceedings in the Karnataka High Court on Friday, including the crucial question of whether it would decide on the schedule for BBMP polls, as the KMC (Amendment) Bill, 2015, remained stuck in the Legislative Council with leaders of Opposition parties digging their heels in on the demand that it should be referred to a select committee.

On Thursday, the state government failed in its efforts to ensure a smooth passage of the bill in the upper House after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues were unable to convince leaders of Opposition parties to give up their demand that it be submitted to a select committee under Rule 116.

The upshot: Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy adjourned the House to Monday. Therefore, leaders in the ruling and Opposition parties are keeping their fingers crossed about the outcome of the petitions being heard by a division bench of the high court today.

During the debate on the amendment bill in the upper House, members of BJP and JD (S) opposed it vehemently saying they saw no reason for division of BBMP. Mr Siddaramaiah, however pointed out that even the BJP had promised to restructure BBMP in its manifesto and then Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had spoken out in support of division of BBMP.