Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday, September 3, discussed the increase of the number of wards on the BBMP from 198 to 225. They reportedly also discussed seeking the High Court’s permission to postpone the upcoming BBMP polls in case the number of wards are to be increased.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy told reporters that a discussion was held on increasing the number of wards under the BBMP and that a separate meeting will be held to discuss the same.

He added that a Joint Select Committee of the legislature headed by BJP MLA S Raghu, is looking into the state government’s The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Bill that it had placed before the Assembly in March. The bill proposes a 5-year mayoral term, area sabhas, and other reforms.

Madhuswamy said that the government is mulling increasing the number of wards as so that each ward will have a population of 40,000-42,000 people.

If the ward numbers are to be increased, the government will have to ask the Court’s permission to postpone the BBMP elections for some time, as the term of the current council ends this month.

With inputs from PTI