Why was CM made chief of GBA, asks Oppn leader R Ashoka

Bengaluru: After Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired the first meeting of the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on Friday, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka slammed the Congress government’s decision making the CM the chairperson of the GBA.

“Why are five corporations needed? You are the planning authority. Here, the CM will send proposals to himself, much like transferring something from the hand to the pocket. It is the mayor who should send proposals to the government after the local council’s approval,” said Ashoka.

The 74th Amendment to the Constitution is the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ for the local bodies, said the LoP. “The Mayor is the supreme authority for the new corporation. But the government is altering this so the CM has the final say on matters,” said Ashoka. Ashoka sought to know if the government considered ‘potholes’ to be a sign of development. “There are heaps of trash lying by the side of the Outer Ring Road. Such being the case, what was the purpose of the GBA meeting,” asked Ashoka.