Bifurcation plans could delay BBMP polls

The State Election Commission is gearing up to hold elections to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) although the State government’s plan to split the civic body could throw a spanner into the exercise.

The term of the present corporators is set to end in April 2015.
The State Chief Election Commissioner P N Sreenivasachary had a meeting with the BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana on December 15, seeking details on 11 points that would be discussed at a meeting scheduled for December 29.

The 11 points
The 11 points are reorganisation of wards and reservation, 50 per cent reservation for women, release of Rs 20 crore for holding elections, appointment of district electoral officer, election officers and assistant election officers, identification of polling booths including sensitive and hyper sensitive booths, identification of counting centres, registration officers for enrolling voters, election observers and nodal officers and measures taken to train officers and other staff to hold the elections.

While the exercises are on to conduct the elections, all eyes are set on the B S Patil committee report on splitting the BBMP.

The Committee constituted two months ago by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is supposed to submit its report in three months time.

Not an easy job
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Patil, a former chief secretary, said a lot of work has to be done for splitting BBMP. “Bifurcation of BBMP is not a small issue like dividing a village or a town. We have to conduct a proper study, first and foremost being the feasibility of the division of BBMP. We have to gather all kinds of details such as population, legal provisions, demarcation line, distribution of tax,” said Patil.

He added that the committee will also consult various stakeholders including the public to come out with its report within the mandated timeframe.