Bengaluru: The Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP) Sunday held a rally and a day-long fast at Freedom Park to protest against multiple provisions of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill (GBG) that was recently passed by both houses of the state legislature.
The party urged for a more feasible decentralisation model that prioritises citizen representation over MLA and govt control in municipal affairs.
BNP announced its intent to approach the governor and high court while also pushing for political consensus on better governance for the city. This comes in the wake of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar’s revelation in the legislature on Friday that certain MLAs control garbage contracts and demand exorbitant sums to initiate waste clearance.
The rally saw participation from concerned citizens, activists, intellectuals, doctors, and industry leaders, all opposing the Bill, which BNP claims undermines Bengaluru’s right to self-governance by reinforcing MLA and state control over municipal affairs. BNP leaders argue that the Bill contradicts Article 243W of the constitution, which mandates urban local bodies’ autonomy.
BNP founder and general secretary Srikanth Narasimhan emphasised the lack of clarity in the Bill regarding the structure and operation of decentralisation. “Can you have three, five, or seven mayors? Or just one? If many, how do you coordinate? If one, how do you decentralise? The Bill must find a fine balance, and BNP is willing to work with authorities to achieve this,” he said.
Speakers, including BNP members Lalithamba BV, Vishnu Reddy, Poongothai, and Venkatachalam, reiterated the need for a governance model centred on citizens. A skit, featuring Kempegowda and Mahatma Gandhi engaging in a dialogue on Bengaluru’s state, captivated the audience, reinforcing the call for urgent reforms.