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Opposition stalls bill to split Palike in Council

BJP, JD(S) vote to refer bill to select panel, claim victory
Last Updated 27 April 2015, 19:09 IST

The combined Opposition in the Council on Monday had the final say over the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike trifurcation bill, with the matter being referred to a select committee.

This is the first time in the history of the legislature that a bill that originated in the legislative assembly has been referred to a select committee. This also means that the Opposition defeated the ruling Congress party in the Council. The Assembly has passed the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2015.  

After a debate on the controversial issue for nearly three days, using their numerical strength, the combined opposition of BJP and the JD(S) forced the bill to be referred to the select committee. The bill was referred to the committee by Council chairman D H Shankaramurthy, after a voice vote by the Opposition.

High drama prevailed in the Council on Monday afternoon, after the BJP and JD(S) scampered to ensure that all their members were inside the House to vote for referring the bill to a committee of 13 members. Barring two members, Basavaraj Hawigappa Patil from BJP and Nasir Ahmed from Congress, the Council saw a full house.

Earlier, Law Minister T B Jayachandra and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tried their best to avoid the inevitable by making a last ditch attempt to dissuade the Opposition from referring the bill to the committee as that would scuttle the government plans to trifurcate the Palike through the legislation route.

Jayachandra said the notice issued by Opposition MLCs K S Eshwarappa and Basavaraj Horatti, seeking that the matter be referred to a select committee, was unconstitutional. Referring to the motion moved by the Opposition leaders, Jayachandra said the notice for referring the bill to a select committee did not fall within the ambit of the Constitution and was defective.

However, considering the Legislative Council rules which gave the Opposition motion validity, Shankaramurthy rejected Jayachandra’s appeal and allowed the House to vote on the motion to refer the bill to a select committee.

Soon after the vote, which put paid to the government’s intention to trifurcate BBMP, Siddaramaiah reacted by saying that the Opposition was setting a very wrong precedent.
“The Opposition motion to refer the bill to a select committee is completely unconstitutional.

It was a defective motion, one which has referred the bill to the committee despite it having originated from the Assembly. It is deviating from the standard operating procedures of the legislature and setting a very wrong precedent,” he said.

Siddaramaiah and the government, however, refused to accept the bill being referred to a select committee as a defeat.

Speaking outside the Council, Jayachandra made the government intention clear by saying that they will finalise and submit the select committee report to the Council chairman within 15 days.

“We will ensure that the report is completed within 15 days for the next course of action,” he said.

Meanwhile, a pleased Opposition walked away by claiming victory in the ‘political battle’.

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(Published 27 April 2015, 19:09 IST)

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