K’taka govt firm on creating 5 municipal corporations in B’luru: DCM

BENGALURU

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday reaffirmed the Karnataka government’s commitment to establishing five municipal corporations in Bengaluru under the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), despite ongoing legal and political challenges.

Responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) questioning the legality of the GBA and the planned restructuring, Shivakumar said, “Objections are a democratic right. If there are flaws, we will correct them, but our commitment to the five corporations remains unchanged.” He added that consultations with BJP leaders and a joint legislature committee had already taken place and that the process was being undertaken in the best interest of the city.

Shivakumar also announced an upcoming press briefing on key civic matters, including A and B Khatas, the e-Khata campaign, and property taxation. Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai voiced concerns, warning that splitting Bengaluru must not compromise the city’s stature or create development disparities. “Bengaluru is a globally recognised metropolis. Any division must not be politically driven,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF) has filed a PIL in the Karnataka High Court, challenging the constitutional validity of multiple sections of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024. The petition argues that the GBA's wide-ranging powers infringe on the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which empowers municipal bodies with local governance. The state government notified the Act on April 24, authorising the GBA to issue directives, acquire land, and oversee municipal functions including taxation, planning, and decentralisation.