BENGALURU, 16 MARCH

Highlighting commitment to transparency and accountable governance, the Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP) has intensified its campaign ahead of the BBMP elections expected in May.

On Sunday, the party held a conference and observed a day-long fast at Freedom Park, protesting against the recently passed Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2024, which they claimed undermined Bengaluru’s self-governance.

Leaders of the BNP argue that the bill centralises power within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), granting MLAs and the State government undue control over municipal affairs while bypassing the Mayor and ward committees. According to BNP Founder and General Secretary Srikanth Narasimhan, this violates Article 243W of the Indian Constitution, which mandates the devolution of key urban functions to municipal bodies.

The event began with two BNP members, dressed as visionaries Kempegowda and Mahatma Gandhi, symbolically presenting their vision for a well-governed Bengaluru, lamenting that their ideals have been ignored by successive state governments for the last 30 years.

 FIGHTING FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE

The party has submitted 23 demands to key decision-makers and launched an online petition to garner public support.

The BNP’s Governing Council Member Poongothai Paramasivam stressed the importance of empowering ward committees instead of allowing MLAs to dictate development plans.

Eminent activists such as Kathyayeni Chamaraj, a long-time advocate for good governance, and women’s rights activist Brinda Adige, participated in the conference, endorsing BNP’s cause.

Highlighting the alleged mismanagement of public funds, Vishnu Reddy, a BNP ward leader, said Rs 100–200 crore is allocated annually for each ward. “Our struggle is to ensure transparency and hold officials accountable for fund utilisation,” he said.

Reddy also stressed that over 50 per cent of BBMP contracts were awarded to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL), an agency currently under scrutiny by the ED and IT departments for financial irregularities.