Like it or not, BBMP polls should be held in May: Minister Ramalinga Reddy
Bengaluru, Feb 22 (PTI): Karnataka Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday said that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections must be held this May, "whether we like it or not."
The city has not had an elected municipal council since September 2020.
"This September, it will be five years without BBMP elections," said Reddy, the senior-most MLA in Bengaluru, who represents BTM Layout, when asked about the delay in holding the elections.
Noting that during S M Krishna's tenure as Chief Minister, elections were held on time in 2001, and again under the previous Siddaramaiah government in 2015, he said, "When the BJP was in power in 2008, elections were delayed by 2.8 years. Similarly, the BJP government did not hold polls in 2020."
Defending the Congress government regarding the delay, Reddy said that the postponement is due to the government's plans to create a Greater Bengaluru Authority.
"We have to hold elections in May, whether we like it or not. Otherwise, the Supreme Court will issue directions (to conduct the polls)," he said in response to a question.
In July last year, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill was referred to a joint select committee headed by Shivajinagar Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad.
The committee is likely to submit its report to Assembly Speaker U T Khader on Monday.
The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill allows for the creation of up to 10 municipal corporations in Bengaluru.
Reddy also expressed his opinion that the city must have multiple corporations.
"If we want to serve the people of Bengaluru, a single corporation will definitely not be enough. One commissioner cannot oversee the entire city. We need two or three corporations to ensure proper roads, streetlights, parks, playgrounds, and stormwater drains," he said.
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KSRTC to run 1000 special services to clear Christmas rush
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will operate 1000 additional special services in view of the Christmas festival.
In addition to the existing schedule, the special services will run on 19.12.2025, 20.12.2025 and 24.12.2025. Further, special buses will be operated from various places of intra & Interstate places to Bengaluru on 26.12.2025 & 28.12.2025.
Special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places.
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Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Madikeri.
The corporation has also announced a discount of 5 per cent on the fare if four or more passengers book tickets under a single reservation. A discount of 10 per cent will be extended on return journey tickets if onward and return tickets are booked simultaneously.
In addition to the above, special buses will be operated from all Taluk/District Bus Stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs.
