Accusing the Municipal Commissioner of ‘overruling’ the power of the council regarding a demolition drive, the Bharatiya Janata Party members, the ruling party, forced the adjournment of a municipal council meeting held here on Friday.
The meeting began on a noisy note with floor leader Sudhir Saraf moving a calling attention motion, through which he alleged that the Municipal Commissioner had curtailed the powers of the elected body and had taken a unilateral decision.
Mr. Saraf urged the council to pass a resolution to complain to the Governor and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Chairman of the Legislative Council about the commissioner’s statement and action, which he said was an insult to the elected representatives.
He also demanded that the council meeting be put off till the issue was resolved. Municipal Commissioner C.M. Noor Mansoor and Dharwad Deputy Commissioner Rajendra Cholan had initiated the drive against encroachments over parking areas as per the earlier schedule.
And his action had angered the councillors because in a special council meeting called on the issue, the council had unanimously resolved to constitute a committee to conduct resurvey of the buildings targeted for demolition drive.
However even as BJP council members supported Mr. Saraf and lent their support, the opposition Congress and JD(S) councillors, who had in the previous meeting sought setting up of experts committee, did not support the move.
They accused the BJP of simply exaggerating the issue.
The former Mayor and Congress leader Prakash Kyarakatti, Opposition leader Sudha Manikuntla tried to play down the issue and tried to defend the commissioner.
