BBMP polls still a far cry-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India

BBMP polls still a far cry-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India

BANGALORE: The State Election Commission (SEC) filed an interlocutory application in the high court on Wednesday, seeking directions to the
government
for notifying delimitation of wards and the reservation list for the BBMP polls. The elections are already 28 months behind schedule.

The application states that though the court gave four months time (till March 10), the authorities have not yet provided the lists. Neither have they replied to a letter sent by the commission in January, reminding them of the November 10 high court order. A division Bench had then given specific directions to the government and the SEC to hold the polls within four months. The Bench headed by chief justice P D Dinakaran, while hearing two interlocutory applications filed by the government and the SEC, had observed that no more extension will be given on any ground.

Advocate general Uadaya Holla told the court that due to the expansion of Bangalore city and clubbing of seven City Municipal Councils, a TMC and 110 villages into the new entity called BBMP, there were 58 lakh new voters and an area of 500 sq km to consider.

"The delimitation process is on. It takes four months. Thereafter, we will bifurcate the wards and also provide reservation," he said, seeking extension. The SEC had sought a direction for the state to complete the required preliminary groundwork like delimitation and fixing of ward reservation at the earliest.

P R Ramesh, former mayor of the city, filed a PIL in 2006 and a contempt petition recently alleging non-compliance. That petition is before a division Bench for consideration. The BBMP polls are already delayed by two years and an administrator is looking after the affairs since November 23, 2006.