The Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP) has announced a massive rally and day-long fast at Freedom Park on March 16 to protest against the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2024 passed in the Assembly on Monday.
The party has called upon citizens to join the movement, alleging that the bill undermines Bengaluru’s self-governance and reinforces State government control over municipal affairs.
BNP has strongly opposed the bill, arguing that it violates Article 243W of the Indian Constitution, which mandates the devolution of 18 key urban functions to municipal bodies. Instead of empowering the Mayor and municipal government, the bill centralises power within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), enabling MLAs and the State government to exert greater control over the city’s administration, the party has alleged.
According to a release, BNP Founder and General Secretary Srikanth Narasimhan stated that the party has submitted 23 demands to key decision-makers and launched an online petition seeking immediate action. He asserted that the bill fails to ensure citizen participation and shields the government from accountability.
BNP Governing Council Member Poongothai Paramasivam highlighted the need to empower ward committees rather than allowing MLAs to control development plans.
Published – March 11, 2025 09:41 pm IST