'Nepotism rampant in ward panel formation'

Nepotism and favouritism thrive in the constitution of ward committees, reveal findings by Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB). Hurt over the denial of place for 500 members suggested by it, CfB extracted details of the ward committee members from the BBMP. It turned out that husbands of women corporators, close relatives and friends of corporators have found a place in the ward committees.

In Padarayanapura ward, SC/ST members could not be appointed, which is mandatory according to the rules. In Rajkumar ward, corporator Rupa R Lingeshwar appointed her husband B Lingeshwar as the ward committee member.

“There is now incontrovertible proof that ward committees have been largely composed through nepotism and the family-chela network. Even a casual perusal of the lists shows clearly that husbands of various women corporators, and party workers have been selected instead of active citizens,” said CfB in its press release. In addition to it, four members of a corporator’s family found a place in the ward committee.

The CfB rued that the commissioner and mayor had given assurances that ward committee selection will be a democratic process, which did not happen.

“It is a shame that a proper democratic, inclusive and transparent process has not been established and used to leverage this citizen energy, which is the core purpose of ward committees. Instead, the city has been thrust with the whims and fancies of political preferences and democracy brazenly subverted in appropriating what should be an apolitical people's representation,” said statement issued by CfB.

The organisation has demanded that the current notification should be cancelled and a due process for selection of ward committees be followed in consultation and consensus with corporators and civil society.