Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council Padmanabha Reddy on Monday demanded Regional Commissioner B Jayanthi hold simultaneous elections to the BBMP standing committees along with Mayor and Deputy Mayor election.
Speaking to media persons here, Padmanabha Reddy has said that he had already written a letter to the Regional Commissioner on September 14 seeking election to the 12 BBMP standing committees on September 28 when the elections to Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts are scheduled. “It will amount to contempt of the court if the Regional Commissioner fails to hold the elections to the BBMP standing committees on September 28,’’ Reddy said.
Commenting on the notice issued by the Regional Commissioner stating that elections to the standing committees would not be held on September 28. “The notice is against law. Some people approached the court seeking election to the BBMP standing committee elections when I was the chairman of Taxation and Finance Committee. I had eight months to complete my term as the chairman when they approach the court. But I had to resign as the chairman since the High Court ruled that elections to the standing committees should be held along with Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections,’’ he said.
The Leader of Opposition recalled how the then Advocate General Ashok Haranahalli and Urban Development Department officials gave their opinion based on the High Court ruling. “I am of the opinion that Regional Commissioner would have issued the notice on delaying the elections to the standing committees on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s instructions. I will raise the issue on the election day. We will stage a protest on that day,’’ he said.
Meeting with BBMP officials
Regional Commissioner B. Jayanthi on Monday held a meeting with Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner V. Shankar, BMBP Additional Commissioner (Administration) Savithri and other officials to discuss on the arrangements for Mayor and the Deputy Mayor elections. They have also discussed about the voters’ list and deputing police to prevent any untoward incidents during the elections.