BJP pushes ‘Bruhat HDMC’ proposal, sparks protest by Congress

Pic: HDMC GB meet on Thursday in Hubballi. Mayor Jyoti Patil, deputy mayor Santosh Chavan and commissioner Rudresh Ghali are seenHubballi: The ruling BJP in the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) on Thursday passed a resolution to send a proposal to the state govt seeking ‘Bruhat' status for the civic body, allegedly without debate and without taking the opposition into confidence.The resolution was approved during the general body meeting, which had 23 subjects on the agenda. The proposal relating to declaring the HDMC as the Bruhat Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation figured as the last item. Before a detailed discussion could take place, BJP corporators urged that the subject be cleared. Mayor Jyoti Patil approved the proposal and subsequently cleared four additional subjects before adjourning the meeting indefinitely.Aggrieved by the move, opposition Congress members staged a protest after the mayor left the chair, raising slogans against the BJP corporators and the mayor. Leader of the opposition Imran Yaligar said it was unfortunate that the ruling party passed the proposal as a ‘publicity stunt' without any discussion. He pointed out that the Congress-led state government has already approved a proposal for a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad and is firm on implementing it.Yaligar alleged that BJP MLAs and MPs had earlier supported the demand for a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad, but were now opposing the move after the state government approved it.Earlier in the day, heated exchanges were reported during discussion on allotting land to establish a Maulana Azad school at Garden Peth. Following the arguments, mayor Patil adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes and later directed the HDMC commissioner to conduct a spot inspection before taking a decision.