Karnataka Assembly Passes Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill Amid Opposition Walkout
Bengaluru, 11th March 2025: The Legislative Assembly on Monday approved the contentious Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, which aims to restructure the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) by dividing it into multiple municipal corporations. However, the bill faced strong opposition from the BJP and JD(S), whose members staged a walkout in protest.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, introduced the bill, proposing the division of BBMP into a maximum of seven corporations. It also establishes a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to oversee coordination, with the Chief Minister as the ex-officio chairperson and the Bengaluru Development Minister as the vice-chairperson. Additionally, the legislation extends the terms of the mayor and deputy mayor to 30 months.
BJP legislators from Bengaluru voiced concerns that multiple municipal corporations could lead to administrative inefficiencies and hinder the city’s progress. While most BJP members opposed the bill, Yeshwantpur MLA ST Somashekhar supported it, sparking speculation about his potential return to the Congress.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka strongly criticized the bill, warning that it could fragment the city and disrupt development. “Having multiple corporations with separate mayors will create disputes over revenue distribution between wealthier and less developed areas. This move also contradicts the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which empowers local self-governance,” Ashoka argued.
He further cautioned that the division of BBMP could lead to Bengaluru being designated as a Union Territory. “A region can be granted Union Territory status if a significant number of non-native language speakers reside there. What if one of these corporations petitions the Union government for such a designation?” he questioned.
Urging the government to reconsider, Ashoka stated, “Mr. Shivakumar, dividing is easy, but building is difficult. Don’t betray Bengaluru. Future generations will not forgive us. Only a united Bengaluru can preserve Brand Bengaluru.”
He also expressed concerns over the marginalization of Kannada speakers, recalling that the BJP government in 2006 had expanded BBMP to include Kannada-speaking villages. “Now, you are splitting Bengaluru into several corporations. How will Kannada retain its influence, especially in East Bengaluru? Soon, there may not even be Kannada-speaking mayors,” he warned.
Ashoka further accused the Congress of consolidating power with the Chief Minister rather than empowering elected representatives. “The mayor should have authority, but here, the Chief Minister and DK Shivakumar control everything,” he said. He also questioned the logic behind the move, asking, “If one commissioner cannot handle Bengaluru, then how does the Chief Secretary manage a state with over seven crore people? Why is decentralization only being implemented in Bengaluru and not in Mysuru, Mangaluru, or Belagavi?”
Defending the bill, Shivakumar argued that decentralization was crucial for better governance. “This is not about breaking Bengaluru apart, but about strengthening it,” he asserted, adding that the government was open to constructive amendments. Referring to his previous statement that even “God cannot fix Bengaluru’s roads in three years,” he reiterated, “I stand by my words. Effective urban management is impossible without decentralization.” He also assured that financially weaker corporations would receive state government support. “We are not dividing Bengaluru, but securing its future,” he insisted, though his explanation failed to satisfy the opposition.
The bill will now proceed to the Legislative Council before being sent for the Governor’s approval. If cleared, it will be enacted into law.
