In a setback to Congress government in Karnataka, the Opposition-dominated Legislative Council today referred to the Select Committee a bill for trifurcating Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, the city civic body.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described the referral as a "not only a new but a bad precedent", a move that would delay passage of the bill further.
He had last week told BJP and JDS to defeat the bill, if they so desired, saying in the legislative history of Karnataka, no bill that originated and was passed by the Assembly had been referred to the select committee by the Council.
Amidst stiff opposition from BJP and JD(S), the Assembly on April 20 had passed the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill 2015, which government maintained was to make the civic body more efficient. Opposition parties however see political motive behind the bill.
After failing to get the Governor's assent for an ordinance on trifurcation of BBMP, the government had called for the special session of Karnataka Legislature to get legislative approval for the bill. The bill was discussed in the Council for two days.
The motion moved by Leader of Opposition K S Eshwarappa (BJP) and JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti to refer the bill to the select committee was adopted by a voice vote.
As Chairman D H Shankaramurthy was about to put the motion on referring the bill to select committee to vote, members from the treasury benches objected to it.
The Chairman said he was going by the rule book and put the motion to vote.
