JOIN USPalike elections: No decision yet on moving SC, says Siddu
Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the State government had not taken a decision yet on approaching the Supreme Court against the High Court’s judgement on the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections.
“A copy of the High Court’s order is yet to reach the government. After a copy of the order is received, the government will discuss the matter with the State’s advocate general and take a call in this regard,” Siddaramaiah told reporters, after inaugurating the Stree Shakti convention organised by the Department of Women and Child Development in the City on Wednesday.
On June 22, the High Court had directed the State Election Commission to ensure that the BBMP elections are held within the time stipulated by the Supreme Court.Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner P N Srinivasachary on Wednesday held a meeting with BBMP Commissioner G Kumar Naik in the run-up to the civic body’s elections.
A day after meeting Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi on Tuesday, Srinivasachary had a detailed discussion with Naik.
Sources in the State Election Commission said that at the meeting with the BBMP top brass, Srinivasachary gave details about the logistics required to hold the polls. It is said that around 48,000 to 50,000 personnel and about Rs 12 crore would be required to conduct the polls.
In all likelihood, the State Election Commission may announce the calendar of events on Thursday.
Cong meeting
Siddaramaiah is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Congress legislators from Bengaluru on Thursday on the recent High Court order to conduct the BBMP polls. He will elicit the views of the legislators on whether to challenge the order in the Supreme Court, the sources said.
The High Court has imposed penalty on the State government, though it was the Karnataka SC and ST Commission that had petitioned seeking postponement of the polls. So, the government can approach the Supreme Court challenging the imposition of penalty, the sources said.