The State government, which has welcomed the Supreme Court order on postponing elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike council, is mulling to bring in a new law for administration of the city.
Reacting to the apex court verdict, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said, “We are not afraid of elections. We are interested in restructuring. Bengaluru is one of the biggest cities in the world and it is governed under the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976. We must have an independent Act for Bengaluru.”
Asked when the government would be bringing the new Act, Mr. Jayachandra said, “That is also in our interest … If possible, we will plan this in the current legislature session itself … Our priorities are restructuring and bringing a new law.”
Asked whether the government is happy about the verdict, he said, “Yes, at present. But it is not a question of victory. It is a fact that in such constitutional matters only the Supreme Court can give order.”
He said the priority of the government now was delimitation. “Bengaluru cannot be restructured again and again. We have to find a solution to it at once and in a way we could give good administration.” Restructuring would be based on the final report by the B.S. Patil Committee, expected to be submitted shortly.
