BBMP polls and amendment bill are not linked, says CM Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday charged that Opposition parties were trying to set a new precedent with their demand for referring The KMC (Amendment) Bill, 2015, to a select committee.

He told the media after meeting floor leaders of BJP and Janata Dal (S) in the Legislative Council that only contentious’ bills were referred to joint committees but not to a select committee. If these leaders had any doubts about the bill they were free to seek clarifications from the government as well as in the House.

“We are ready to answer any queries from Opposition parties. They (Opposition parties) have every right to defeat the bill since they enjoy majority in the House. The government will see what it has to do,” he added.

Mr Siddaramaiah clarified that referring the bill to a select committee would not have any bearing on the schedule of polls to BBMP. The bill dealt with division of BBMP into three entities and had been passed by the Assembly. The conduct of elections to BBMP would be decided in the high court on Friday.

Replying to a question, Mr Siddaramaiah said the Congress was not afraid of facing polls. The intention, however, was to improve the city in all spheres by creating three new corporations. “We will win the elections whenever they are held,” he added.