The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : JD(S) may seek share in BMP nominations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 31, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

JD(S) may seek share in BMP nominations

By Afshan Yasmeen

BANGALORE, MAY 30. The Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition in the State is likely to have an impact on the functioning of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council.

Although the Janata Dal (Secular) is supporting the Congress in the State, it is the principal Opposition party in the BMP Council. While the Congress leaders say the alliance will not affect the Council affairs, there is speculation that the Janata Dal (S) members may demand a 50 per cent share in the Government nominations to the BMP.

The previous Government had increased the number of nominations to the BMP Council from five to 10 last year. The nominations were made just before the elections.

"Usually, with the formation of a new Government the nominations are cancelled and new ones made. We want at least five of the 10 nominations to be of our choice," a senior Janata Dal (S) leader told The Hindu on Sunday.

This apart, the Janata Dal was planning to demand leadership of plum committees in the Council after the term of the existing committees ends in November, the leader said.

Congress members are not prepared for this. "We enjoy a majority in the Council with 66 members apart from MLAs, MLCs, and MPs. The coalition at the State level should not affect our affairs," a senior member and former Mayor said.

The Janata Dal (S) was recognised as the principal Opposition block in the BMP Council after one-and-a-half years of its formation. The Council functioned without any main Opposition group for almost one year as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too had staked claim to the status.

While, the Janata Dal (S) had 13 members who were originally elected on the party's ticket, the BJP had 15 members. The Janata Dal (S)'s tally rose to 17 with four independents joining it. The issue was undecided as the BJP argued that the crossover of four independents was illegal.

The then Mayor, K Chandrashekar, had temporarily settled the issue by granting the Opposition party's status to the Janata Dal (S), the BJP, and the Janata Dal (U) after consulting legal experts.

The matter was referred to the Legislature Secretariat that suggested that the single largest party other than the ruling party could be accorded the status of Opposition. The strength of the Janata Dal (S) was reduced to 16 after the Hombegowdanagar corporator, D. Shaila, died.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (S) has appointed Jalahalli corporator, B.R. Nanjundappa, as the new Opposition leader in the Council. He replaces Jayachamarajendra Nagar corporator, Syed Jameel Ahmed.

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