Conquering BBMP: Congress or BJP

In Karnataka, both ruling Congress party and opposition BJP are busy drawing strategy for forthcoming Bruhat Bengaluru Metropolitan (BBMP) elections. Although in recent assembly elections BJP was routed out of power it managed to win 18 assembly seats, may be due to Prime minister Narendra Modi's road shows and public meetings is enthusiastic about retaining power in BBMP. Ruling Congress which won 12 assembly segments is in power of Karnataka State doesn't lag behind to wrest BBMP as there is a Congress wave in Karnataka. This may be due to the effect of 5 free bee guarantees under SiddaKumar government. Elections to BBMP were long due three years back, but for one or the other reason it was kept postponed indefinitely. Previous government wanted the wards to be increased to 243 from present 198 and it couldn't do the delimitation process during its regime despite high court's direction.
Blessing in disguise for Congress : 

With a change in government in the state, the recent exercise of defining new boundaries for the BBMP wards may undergo review, as the Congress party has opposed both the delimitation and the ward reservation, criticising them as unscientific. Prospect of a new delimitation exercise is likely to further postpone the BBMP elections, as the body has been without elected representatives for the past three years. During the delimitation process, the government increased the number of wards from 198 to 243. However, political parties criticised this move, arguing that using the 2011 Census report as a reference for redrawing boundaries was flawed, as it did not accurately reflect the current population distribution among the wards.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar's supervision: 

However, Congress is not in favour of increasing the number of wards. But the previous government has already made a move in this direction. He is convening series of meetings with elected representatives,  various stake holders and officials. As Bengaluru Development minister he has envisaged many projects to improve the quality of life in this silicon city, may it be traffic congestion, good roads, managing flood water, supply of drinking water etc. He has set up a task force, an advisory body to oversee development for better Bengaluru. SiddaKumar government is keen to revive Indira Canteens and increase its nuo to 250. This is also ital in gaining commo mans support. He is regularly making city rounds and issues instructions for providing better civic facilities.  His priority is to make this  city as a global city. The government is also interested in splitting BBMP into three smaller corporations. This exercise is to win BBMP elections, woo urban voters who are still looking at Modi for magic.
BJP's complaint to Governer:

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party  in Karnataka attacked the ruling Congres after the party's Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala was seen attending a meeting chaired by deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar with top officials. A delegation lead by R. Ashoka, MLA and opponent of DK Shivakumar met Governor Thaverchand Ghehlot and lodged a complaint to pull up Congress government. The saffron party questioned Surjewala on why he attended a meeting of state government officers which included officials from the Bengaluru civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike . The meeting was organised at a private hotel. BJP alleged that this was a “secret meeting” through which the “Gandhis” are trying to “control” the southern state. The party also shared a picture of the meeting which was originally posted - and deleted - by housing minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan. It showed IAS officers Rakesh Singh, and the BBMP's chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, among other government officials.The “secret meeting” held at Bangalore's Shangri-La Hotel is just another way of ‘Gandhis!’ trying to control Karnataka. The family have sent their close aide Randeep Surjewala, who neither holds any position at government  to decide on Karnataka’s matters. This is also an indication as to how Surjewala is powerful in dealing with Karnataka affairs. What is his capacity or authority to chair the meeting with the BBMP and BDA Commissioners?  Is this where the ‘85% deals’ are being taken by the ATMSarkara to raise funds ahead of 2024 elections? The BJP has demanded the CM to answer these questions. Other officers including energy minister K J George and Shivaji Nagar MLA Rizwan Arshad were also present. Surjewala and the rest of the Karnataka Congress are yet to respond to this allegation. With all these developments, the issue is turning interested as to whether who will rule the City ? The fastness of Congress will give an edge to it as BJP is struggling to set right it's house properly.

(Dr Mysi Patil is the State Correspondent).