24 MLAs skip crucial meet on Bangalore

BANGALORE: It was an important meeting to discuss a bill concerning the future of Bangalore. But 24 of the 28 MLAs skipped it on Monday.
Urban development minister S Suresh Kumar walked into the meeting hall at BMRCL office sharp at 10 am only to find BDA, BWSSB and BBMP chiefs and the Jayanagar MLA B N Vijayakumar present.
A shocked minister (who is also an MLA) decided to wait for the other MLAs to arrive.At around 10.30am, Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya walked in. At 11 am, mayor S K Natraj came, followed by C N Ashwathnarayana, Malleswaram MLA at 11.30 am.
By then the minister got furious and cancelled the meeting before walking out.
What was intriguing was that the MLAs who decided to stay away from the meeting were in touch with officials who were present at the meeting.
Members of ABIDe which piloted the Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Governance Bill were equally disappointed at the indifference to a bill that is bound to change the way the city is run. The bill is scheduled to be tabled in the assembly on February 21, when the budget session gets under way.
"ABIDe came up with this bill keeping in mind the best interests of Bangalore. The MLAS, MPs and senior corporators were consulted but no one evinced interest. Now that the bill is to be tabled in the assembly, ABIDe wanted to debate it with the elected representatives. This was the first meeting held with all the MLAs," said Ashwin Mahesh, ABIDe member.
"It is now time for the public to question the elected representatives' apathy. There are certain flaws in the existing system, which we wanted to correct. Implementing this bill is a constitutional mandate. In the existing system, the mayor has a term of only one year. He cannot implement long-term plans, nor can he be a strategist. Certain changes need to be done and ABIDe has an over arching plan for the city. If the MLAs think everything is fine with the existing system, then why should ABIDe exist at all?" asked an upset R K Misra, ABIDe member.