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For his part, Reddy said there was no need to discuss the issue of leadership change. (File Photo)
Elections to the five civic bodies of the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will be held early next year, Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Tuesday, adding that the matter was on the agenda of a dinner meeting organised by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday evening.
Responding to questions at a news conference, the minister said that elections to the rural local bodies of zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats were also discussed at the meeting. The elections to the five corporations under the GBA and the zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats will be held in February or by the end of March next year.
“Nothing else was discussed,” Reddy said of the meeting, which had gained significance amid speculations about an impending Cabinet reshuffle.
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The topic of leadership change had also resurfaced ahead of the meeting owing to contrasting statements made by Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar about how the legislature party leader is selected.
In a recent interview with a TV channel, Shivakumar said that in the Congress, the decision on the legislature party leader was not always taken based on the number of MLAs supporting a leader.
Siddaramaiah, however, presented a different view at Bagalkot on Monday, saying that both the high command’s view and the opinion of elected legislators mattered in the issue. This attracted varied views from ministers and breathed a new lease of life into the debate on the change of guard in the state.
For his part, Reddy said there was no need to discuss the issue of leadership change.
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“It becomes fodder for the media and the Opposition,” he said.
Noting that the party high command had chastised legislators multiple times for commenting on the issue, the minister said, “Such statements are hurting the party. I don’t know why party leaders do not understand this… The high command should put an end to it, or at least we should refrain from commenting.”
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