BELLARY: The Government, which had upgraded the Bellary City Municipal Council to the level of a corporation and had increased the number of wards from 35 to 51, has decided to limit the number of wards to 35.

It is now unclear what the status of the civic body will be.

This doubt arose following a communication received by the Deputy Commissioner here from the State Election Commission. According to the communication, the number of wards were increased to 51 according to a notification from the Government issued in August 2004. The process of reservation was also completed according to another notification issued in September 2005. However, in a notification issued on June 5, 2006, the Government has asked that the number of wards be reverted to 35. Stating it was necessary to revert to the original number of wards to conduct elections, the State Election Commission wanted to know whether the process of reservation could be redone and the voters' list revised.

Since the population in Bellary city exceeds three lakh, the Government under the Congress regime issued a notification to upgrade the existing council to that of a corporation. Elections will have to be held within six months from the date of notification.

However, the elections could not be held as the present body, which is under the control of the Bharatiya Janata Party, approached the court stating that it was not possible to hold elections when the elected body was yet to complete its term.

Meanwhile, The municipal president had got the nomenclature of the civic body changed to that of a corporation and had began functioning as the Mayor.

K.C. Kondaiah, MLC and Congress leader, has expressed his surprise over the issue.

He said he would take up the issue with the concerned authorities.

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