BBMP elections likely in January 2010

Now that the ruling party in the state has emerged from a crisis, the ground is being laid for elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

On Tuesday, city-in-charge ministers R Ashok and Katta Subramanya Naidu held a half-an-hour meeting with BJP MLAs from the city to discuss elections to the civic body.
The MLAs urged the ministers to hold BBMP elections at the earliest, as they felt that further delay might adversely impact the party.

Also, nearly everything necessary for conducting the elections is now ready — the state government is left with only the finalization of the ward-wise reservation chart, and the announcement of polling dates.

The finalization of the reservation chart is likely in a fortnight, after the chief minister has met city ministers and MLAs.

Speaking after the meeting, transport minister R Ashok indicated that there is likelihood that elections will be held in January.

The high court had ordered the State Election Commission (SEC) to make an announcement of the elections by October 23. There were, however, legal hurdles that prevented an announcement by that date.

The five-year term of the elected council ended on November 23, 2006. On January 16, 2007, BBMP's area witnessed expansion from 226 sq km to 800 sq km.