We’re not dividing Bengaluru to seize power: Transport minister R Ramalinga Reddy

 

 

You know, the Supreme Court gave a clear direction to the State Election Commission (SEC) to continue with preparations for holding the elections. There was no other option.

 

 

It will. It has to happen because the SC gave a direction in this regard.

 

 

The bill was passed in both Houses of parliament. If the governor signs the bill before the issue of notification for the polls, I think there will be no confusion. The question of holding elections will not arise as there will not be a BBMP.

 

Legal experts have to guide us. Probably Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who handles the portfolio may speak on this issue.

 

 

The BBMP has not benefitted after it was expanded. The merger of seven city municipal councils did not help the city grow systematically. When Mr S.M. Krishna was in power till 2004, we introduced SAS scheme.

 

Many parks were developed, we rejuvenated many lakes, Surya Nagar layout was developed during our time. But things changed. The BBMP had income of Rs 3,000 crore but presented a budget of Rs 10,000 crore. 

 

The BJP ruined it. They issued B-Khatas instead of A-Khatas. There was a hoarding scam worth Rs 2,000 crore. They had no solution to the garbage issue. We said in our manifesto that we would restructure BBMP. Some wards have 20,000 population and a few others 80,000. We want to set right the anomalies and introduce a three-tier system.

 

Frankly, the Congress did not want BJP to win BBMP. That’s why the Congress planned to divide the city into five so that BJP wins nowhere. But that plan will not come through.

 

You recall what happened in the Parliament election. There was the Modi wave. What happened afterwards? Let’s us take Ballari MP B. Sriramulu’s case. Our party candidate N.Y. Gopalkrishna won the Assembly seat he resigned after he became MP. The Modi wave has faded after the Parliament election. The BBMP election is fought on local issues. People knew very well about the bad governance at BBMP. Our intention is to give good governance. We never wanted to divide BBMP just to capture power.

 

 

He never said he is pro-rural or anti-urban. If he was not interested in Bengaluru city, he would have given the portfolio to someone else. He knows the importance of the city. Two, he is holding the finance portfolio, so if he wants Bengaluru’s development, he can give funds, clear projects. Therefore, he deserves to hold the portfolio.  

 

 

It is better that the city portfolio be with the CM. Since he is the finance minister, it would get importance. He gave Rs 300 crores the moment he assumed office. He laid emphasis on TenderSure and Signal Free Corridor projects. Which CM held meetings to increase the revenue of BBMP? Mr Siddaramaiah held four or five meetings in this regard. Due to work pressure, he might not have focussed earlier but he has given the importance the city deserves.

 

 

We tried to reduce corruption. We posted honest officers. You see the changes now. The administrator has been working hard. We have a good commissioner. Corruption has come down. I think you should ask this question in the BBMP office.

 

 

(Smiles) Yes. But there is a problem. If we have a policy to transfer erring officials from one corporation to another, then we could have contained corruption. We do not have rules permitting their transfer. Once recruited, he or she remains here. This is one reason for rampant corruption.

 

 

We said winnability is the criteria. If any caste does not get justice during ticket distribution then we can make it up by nominating candidates from that community to BBMP. The government has powers to nominate 20 people.

 

We are in power. Keeping development in mind, we have to give weightage to winnable candidates.

 

I have decided to concentrate on my constituency alone. I will not transgress into others’ territory. The decisions will be left to MLAs or other local candidates. If they ask me I will give suggestions.