Gowda puts condition for ties, asks to drop agenda of restructuring BBMP

Bengaluru: Sep 3: The Congress was thrown into a tizzy on Wednesday after JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda told the party to drop the controversial agenda of restructuring BBMP, to facilitate an alliance in the council.

Unlike Gowda, his son H?D?Kumaraswamy was vocal on the condition. He said if the Congress wants to align with his party, then the restructuring decision should be off.

Gowda is understood to have conveyed the condition to KPCC chief G Parameshwara, who met the JD(S) chief at his Padmanabhanagar residence seeking an alliance. Gowda is learnt to have harangued the State Congress chief on how division of big cities like Delhi into smaller corporations has not served any purpose. He asked Parameshwara to hold further discussion on the issue with Kumaraswamy.

Rattled by Gowda's condition, the Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara and senior ministers, went into a huddle till late in the evening but failed to arrive at any decision. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, however, said Gowda has not set any conditions.

Restructuring Bengaluru municipal area is the main agenda of the Congress and one of the key promises in the 2013 Assembly poll manifesto.

Kumaraswamy, when contacted, said if the Congress is not ready to budge from its stand, then there is no question of having any sort of understanding.

Asked whether the Congress had accepted the condition, Kumaraswamy said, “I do not know because Parameshwara interacted with my father.” To a question whether he would be meeting Parameshwara or any other Congress leader to take the discussion further, he replied in the negative. He said, “At this juncture I don’t see any merit in meeting anyone as it is not clear whether the Congress would meet our demand. Our condition is that Brand Bengaluru should not be dented by division.” He said he was of the personal view that the JD?(S) should remain neutral. But some in the party thought otherwise and began talks with the Congress, he added.

Kumaraswamy said, the BJP when in power hardly did anything for Bengaluru. The Congress too in the last two years did nothing. Even if the BJP steers the Palike administration again, the Congress would not sanction funds. The Palike has gone pauper, he noted.

The JD(S) has been vehemently opposing the proposal to re-structure BBMP. So much so that it had recently joined hands with the BJP in the Karnataka legislative council and forced the ruling party to refer the controversial bill aimed at re-structuring to the select committee. The bill is currently pending before President of India for his assent. If the President gives his assent, the BBMP will cease to exist.