BJP must not stop Bengaluru city growth: Ramalinga Reddy

Bengaluru: If the next BBMP council meetings take place as expected by the Congress, then the party in coalition with JD(S) sees no ‘threat’ from BJP to pass resolutions or run the house. Though Congress-JD(S) have formed the council, there were many speculations that the parties may face difficulty in the council as the coalition has only 98 corporators, including independents, while BJP has 100 corporators.

However, rubbishing all the rumours, district-in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy maintained that there appeared to be no problems at present, to run the council.

“The BJP should have problems when the party tries to pass a controversial resolution. If only public works like flyovers, underpass, road widening, and similar works are taken up, why should they object? Aren’t all the parties working in the interest of the city?” he asked.

According to the KMC Act, the BJP will have to seek voting in the council, if they have to object or stop the council from passing a resolution. However, all the 100 BJP corporators will have to be in quorum to show their number strength to go against a resolution.

“This quorum again does not count as the coalition has already shown its 131 vote power in the mayoral election. If a public work or any resolution is passed in the interest of BBMP and Bengaluru citizens, then the mayor is the supreme body to pass the resolution. The BJP will not have any powers to stop the council from passing the resolution,” said Jayamahal corporator M.K Gunashekar.

He maintained that if any resolution was against the interest of the BBMP or the city, then, the commissioner, who is the head of the executive, had powers to recommend the state government not to pass a resolution.

The Congress, however, will be in soup if the independents resign or JD(S) withdraws its support to form the council.

First day in office

Saturday should have been the first working day for the newly-elected mayor B.N Manjunath Reddy and deputy mayor S.P Hemalatha. However, since it was a second Saturday, it was a government holiday, and the duo spent the day meeting senior party leaders, seeking their blessings. While Mr Reddy met JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda and gave a few television interviews, Hemalatha, celebrated her 41st birthday. She also offered prayers on the occasion of last ‘Shravana Shanivara (Saturday)’. Later, she met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Mr Deve Gowda.