JOIN USPalike okays grant of land to JD(S) to build new office
The JD(S), which lost its office of many years on Race Course Road in the city to the Congress following a Supreme Court order, has been allotted a site to build a new one. The party can get a new office constructed, once the government approves the grant of land.
The BBMP Council, on Wednesday, passed a resolution granting the JD(S) one acre and one gunta of prime land behind the Chowdiah Memorial Hall.
S Prakash, JD(S) floor leader in the Council, moved the resolution, amid noisy scenes in the House over the MLA Muniratna files episode. It was seconded by former JD(S) corporator Padmaanabha Reddy who had switched to the BJP in April 2013 to contest Assembly elections on the saffron party’s ticket from Sarvagnanagar constituency. Given the din, the resolution was passed without a discussion.
The resolution says that the land should be granted to the JD(S) for 30 years for an annual rent of Rs 1,000. The BBMP commissioner will now forward the proposal to the State government for necessary action.
Prakash said, “The Congress party has five offices in different parts of the City, while BJP has three. We are the only party, that too a regional one, which does not have any office as such. The old office on Race Course Road will be vacated at the earliest following the court ruling. We are in dire need of office space. Being a political party, it is our legitimate right to get the land.”
‘Dissenting voices’
There were dissenting voices for the grant of land, though. A senior Congress corporator, who requested anonymity, said the decision should not have been taken when the Council was not in order.
“There should have been a proper debate on this issue. Our main contention is why did we pass a resolution when many of our corporators, including those from the ruling party, are questioning the leasing out of prime land to clubs, schools, art galleries and charitable institutes at throwaway prices,” said the leader. A senior BJP corporator said that although the BJP allowed this resolution to be passed, the government may not allow granting of the land.