His term having ended on April 23 and wielding little power since then, Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy is ready to resign.
Mr. Murthy has been continuing in the post owing to a row over reservation of the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, which is being heard in the Karnataka High Court.
On Wednesday, an upset Mayor told The Hindu , “Over the past six months, no new development projects have been taken up. Since my term has ended, I do not have powers to approve important subjects in the Bruhat Bangalore Bahanagara Palike council, nor has the government given sanction to presenting the 2013–14 budget.”
Even BBMP officials were not following his directions, he complained. “Any direction I issue will be in the interest of the public. If officials do not heed it, what is the use in me continuing as Mayor?”
If he was allowed to present the budget for 2013–14, it would be “realistic”. “The draft budget for Rs. 5,000 crore is just enough for administrative expenses, clearing pending bills and funding spillover projects. The outlay may increase by Rs. 1,000 crore if new programme of worksspecial grants and new development projects are included,” he said.
