A delegation of Karnataka BJP leaders submitted a memorandum to Governor Thawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday, drawing attention to the “unconstitutional” nature of the Greater Bengaluru Authority Act passed by the ruling Congress in both Houses of the legislature.
The legislation seeking to create seven municipal corporations under a single governing body, the Greater Bengaluru Authority, would fundamentally alter the existing governance structure of Bengaluru. It is a violation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment that established a three-tier governance system for urban bodies, ensuring decentralization of power and strengthening local self-governance, said the delegation headed by LOPs R Ashok and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and state BJP president BY Vijayendra.
Expressing concern over the long delay in holding elections to urban local self-governments, the BJP alleged that the delay was due to the state government holding the powers to determine the delimitation of wards and fixing of reservations for elections instead of the State Election Commission (SEC), which had not been rectified in the bill too.
The bill also usurps the role of the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC). The bill proposes an MPC for a larger area than the GBA, despite the existence of the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) headed by the CM. To align with the 74th CAA, the GBA should be replaced with the MPC, with the Mayor of Bengaluru as its head, stated the memorandum, which also claimed that the bill also violated the principle of equality before the law.
In violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, the bill introduces three different laws with varying provisions in urban areas: GBGB for Bengaluru citizens, KMC Act 1976 for citizens of other municipal corporations and KM Act 1964 for citizens of smaller cities. A PIL (WP 17766/2021) challenging this inequality is pending before the High Court, which has issued a notice to the government. The government has yet to respond, and on this ground alone, the Governor of Karnataka could refuse to give assent to the GBGB, urged the BJP leaders.
The creation of seven to eight additional committees will increase bureaucratic hurdles rather than streamline governance. This will introduce multiple layers of decision-making, slowing down Bengaluru’s development, lamented the leaders.
Elaborating further, the BJP noted that while decisions in Grama Sabha in rural areas are final, the bill reduces ward committees in the city to an advisory role. Additionally, councillors would now have the power to veto ward committee decisions, further weakening citizen participation. It would have long-term adverse effects on Bengaluru’s cultural and demographic fabric as Bengaluru is already facing rapid migration, impacting the linguistic and cultural identity of Kannadigas. Breaking the city into smaller corporations will further marginalize Kannadigas, especially in areas where they are already a numerical minority, stated the BJP.
The delegation urged the Governor to conduct a constitutional review of the GBA Act and its compliance with the 74th Amendment and advise the state government to uphold the democratic principles (amendments to ensure that elected representatives retain voting rights and governance remains decentralized), and to stop the creation of redundant corporations and committees, which will burden taxpayers and hinder Bengaluru’s growth.
It also appealed to preserving Bengaluru’s cultural and demographic integrity and to ensure that governance reforms do not undermine Kannadiga identity, traditions, and linguistic representation. It highlighted the need to ensure equitable financial management by preventing financial centralization under the Greater Bengaluru Authority.