Overview

• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired the inaugural Greater Bengaluru Authority meeting following the creation of five city corporations to decentralize governance for a city of about 1.4 crore people.
• He directed a focus on solid waste management, higher municipal revenues, traffic decongestion, and city beautification with coordination across BWSSB, BDA, and BESCOM.
• Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the election and reservation process is underway with objections invited and the voters' list to be filed in court in November.
• The BJP boycotted the session, alleging late notice, proposed curbs on elected members' powers contrary to the 74th Constitutional Amendment, and over-centralization under the Chief Minister, and said it has filed a PIL.
• Opposition leaders also questioned the non-release of previously announced funds including Rs 25 crore, criticized engineers being named CEOs to handle tenders and projects, and flagged a lack of meeting halls and staff shortages for the new bodies.