SC's no to State plea to defer BBMP poll

The court rejected the State government’s plea for postponing the elections by three months. Hearing a petition filed by Vasudha and seven others, a division bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and B S Chauhan said the elections should be held as per the calendar of events announced by the state election commission. 

The petitioner sought the postponement of the poll and pleaded for changes in the newly notified the ward reservation pattern. The petitioner sought that reservation to SC/ST candidates wards should be made taking into entire Bangalore than existing two wards in each Assembly segment.

Karnataka Government Advocate General Ashok Harnahalli requested the bench to postpone the poll as it needed at least three months time for conducting elections. He argued that if the elections were to be held as per schedule, the code of conduct would come into effect immediately and it would mean holding elections in a hurry.

Opposition’s victory

The apex court direction is seen as victory to opposition political parties like the Congress and JD(S) who have been demanding that the State Government conduct the elections at the earliest.