'Unscientific reservation of BBMP wards': Infighting in BJP worries CM

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: A majority of BJP leaders in Bengaluru are reportedly not eager to oversee the coming election to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) thanks to 'unscientific delimitation and reservation’ for the 243 wards.

There also does not seem to be any unanimity among Bengaluru BJP leaders, which is a cause of worry for Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

A majority of sitting councillors would be unable to seek re-election due to the change of ward reservation, addition and deletion of areas, which have increased the number of wards from the present 198 to 243, an additional 45 wards. They will have to either look for new wards, field their husbands or wives, or take the risk of contesting no matter whether they win or not. But no BJP MLA from Bengaluru City has expressed reservation over the delimitation exercise.

A senior leader close to a BJP minister told News Trail that the CM did not consult any sitting BJP MLA before finalising the quota matrix which was done in consultation with officials. He seems oblivious to the fact that councillors play a crucial role during assembly elections and campaigns in areas that the MLA candidate cannot visit. Despite being in power, it would be an uphill task for the BJP to win around 122 seats to hold power in BBMP, said sources, with the recent rainfall and the damage it caused, turning voters hostile to the ruling party.

The crumbling infrastructure in the state capital is sure to prove an advantage for the Congress party