SN Jayaram IAS, Regional Commissioner- Can MPs, MLAs vote in mayoral polls?

Have city MLAs and MPs been violating the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act by voting during mayoral elections? With just two days left for these elections, there is utter confusion over their voting rights.

As per election rules of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, only corporators have the right to vote during the election of a mayor. But the KMC Act 1976 bars those nominated to the corporation from voting and is silent on voting rights of MLAs/MPs. Assuming they had voting rights, 28 MLAs and five MPs from the city have been exercising their franchise and electing the mayor since 1996.

Regional commissioner SN Jayaram, presiding officer for these mayoral polls, has written to the government seeking a clarification on voting rights. He told TOI: "The election will be conducted as per rules. There's confusion with regard to voting for mayor's elections. As per the rules, the first council meet of the year should elect the mayor and at the meet MLAs, MPs, MLCs will also be present along with councillors. I have sought a clarification on whether voting power lies with MLAs, MPs, MLCs," he said.

A senior official pointed out: "This issue has been taken up for the first time. It's now a fight between election rules of the KMC Act and Constitution of Corporation which is in the KMC Act itself."
Sources pointed out that the issue could have been set aside to enable MLAs choose own candidates.
Unmindful of the confusion, BBMP has already despatched letters to all MLAs/MPs to participate in the April 29, 2011 council meeting which is expected to elect a new mayor.

KMC Act on elections
According to Chapter 3 - Election Rules of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976 which lays down rules for the election of mayor, deputy mayor, members of the standing committee and chairmen of standing committee specifically says the power of electing them lies with councillors. The rules don't mention a word on voting power to MPs and MLAs.

What KMC Act says
The Constitution of the corporation in the KMC Act only says that MLAs and MPs are part of it and silent on their voting rights. Chapter 3 of the Act bars nominated members of the BBMP from voting.

Quote hanger
The constitution of the corporation is supreme. No election rules can supersede this constitution laid out by Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act. Till 1996, MLAs and MPs were not voting for the mayor. It started only after the 1974 amendment which included MPs and MLAs as part of the corporation. The constitution specifies that nominated members of the council (who can be experts) don't have any powers to vote in council meetings. That means all others such as councillors, MPs, MLAs have voting powers.

Link : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-27/bangalore/29478032_1_mlas-vote-voting-rights-election-rules

S.V. Rangnath, Chief secretary -Yaragol to become reality soon

The Central Government has already discussed the early completion of the Yaragol project and will inform us of its decision soon, said chief secretary to the State Government S V Ranganath. He was speaking at the progress review meeting of the Zilla Panchayat on Wednesday.

Aware of the shortage of drinking water in Kolar and Chikkaballapur, the Government is hoping to provide a permanent project to supply water to the two districts, he said. It is also planning to supply water from sources like Nethravathi and Kaveri rivers, he added.

As per S.N Jayaram Regional Commissioner, Bangalore Division “The Government is already working to undertake projects for the development of the district,” The Government has already declared renovation of up to 15,000 km of road in the State. “A considerable distance of the road is within the limits of Kolar district,” he added.

“The proposal to increase the number of beneficiaries under the Ganga Kalyana Yojana, sponsoring the Nandi and Antargange festivals, establishing a university in Kolar and construction of the office of the Deputy Commissioner as well as the Mini Vidhana Soudha have been submitted to the Government,” he said.

The district has risen to the third place in the State in the field of agriculture.

On-field improvement

“There has been an increase in the production of ragi by 60 per cent and groundnut by 37 per cent. There has also been an overall increase by 34 per cent in the production of various agricultural crops,” he said, appreciatively.

Storage facilities will be provided to help mango farmers in Srinivaspur, a famed mango-producing taluk, he added.

Ranganath said primary health centres will soon get security guards as well as tele-medicine facilities and an intensive care unit will be opened at the District Hospital.

The Government is also planning the establishment of a 660-kilowatt power sub-station in places like Srinivaspur, provision to build houses under survey numbers, proper implementation of housing scheme, establishment of an industrial zone on 646 acres of land near Vemagal, development of Kolar-Devanahalli road and development of all APMCs in the district, Ranganath added.

Ranganath also appreciated the achievement of the district in reaching the third place in production of milk.

“Kolar district has taken a leap in the SSLC results this year, from 22nd to eighth. This achievement is remarkable and worth emulation,” he complimented.

District Secretary and Small Irrigation Department Commissioner P N Srinivasachari,
Regional Commissioner S N Jayaram, Financial Advisor to the Chief Minister Dr Raju, and Kolar Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena were present at the meeting.

3 secrets for good administration

Chief secretary to the State Government S V Ranganath put forth three important techniques to ensure effective implementation of the projects of the Government.

Ranganatha said punctuality and discipline at work are extremely important.
“Office work should be carried out methodically and also reviewed regularly,” he added.

Clearing files and recognition of any problem is very important. The reason for a problem should also be recognised as this will help solve the trouble quickly,” he said.