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Key Points

Tejasvi Surya has strongly criticized the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act for centralizing power rather than decentralizing it. He argues that the Act creates multiple powerless corporations without real financial devolution. The BJP leader claims parastatals remain unaccountable and transparency is severely lacking. Ultimately, he describes the reforms as "old wine in new bottle" that benefits bureaucracy over citizens.

Key Points: Tejasvi Surya Slams Greater Bengaluru Act as Power Centralisation

  • GBG Act creates five powerless corporations with ceremonial mayors
  • Ward committees remain recommendatory with corporator veto power
  • Parastatals like BESCOM and BWSSB escape accountability
  • Metropolitan Planning Committee buried violating constitutional amendment
  • Metro fare reports hidden from public for months
  • Urban mobility startups denied access to BMTC data
  • Power flows from CM and Deputy CM downward
  • More bureaucracy and less democracy in new system
2 min read

Greater Bengaluru Governance Act meant for reforms, ends up centralising power: Tejasvi Surya

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticizes GBG Act for adding bureaucratic layers instead of decentralizing power, calling it "old wine in new bottle" for Bengaluru governance.

"What we now have is maximum government, minimum governance. The Act adds more bureaucratic layers instead of building state capacity. - Tejasvi Surya"

Bengaluru, Oct 11

BJP Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South Lok Sabha MP, Tejasvi Surya, said on Saturday that the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act was a chance to reform Bengaluru's governance, which has instead undergone re-centralisation in the garb of decentralisation.

He made the statement while speaking at the panel discussion on the GBG Act organised by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy in Bengaluru.

"What we now have is maximum government, minimum governance. The Act adds more bureaucratic layers instead of building state capacity. Power continues to flow from the top from the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, not from the people upward," he noted.

"Five powerless corporations, five ceremonial Mayors, no real devolution of finances or authority. When it comes to Ward Committees, although the number of members has increased, the Chairperson (Corporator) still holds veto power, and participation remains merely recommendatory. Parastatals like Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewarage Board (BWSSB) and Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) remain outside any real accountability," Surya said, while hitting out at the Congress-led Karnataka government.

"The Act buries the long-neglected Metropolitan Planning Committee instead of empowering it, violating the 74th Amendment of the Constitution," he added.

"If the goal was to bring governance closer to the people, we could have achieved it by increasing wards and empowering zonal or ward committees -- not multiplying corporations. The GBG Act, in short, is old wine in a new bottle repackaged for Bengaluru -- More bureaucracy, less democracy," he noted.

Surya also said, "There's a serious insecurity among those in power when it comes to transparency. We (BJP) had to go to court just to get the Metro Fare Fixation Committee report made public -- Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had sought an exaggerated hike, and fares were revised arbitrarily without publishing the report for more than four months."

"Even today, startups working on urban mobility solutions are struggling to access live Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) data. At a deeper level, those in power still see citizens as outsiders. Worse is developing a patronising attitude," he added.

"That mindset has to change if we truly want decentralisation and accountable governance," he said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Finally someone speaking truth to power! The "ceremonial Mayors" comment hits home. We need real decentralization, not just reshuffling of chairs. The 74th Amendment was meant to empower cities, but our politicians keep finding ways to centralize control.
R
Rohit P
While I appreciate the criticism, let's not forget that BJP also didn't implement proper decentralization when they were in power. This is a systemic problem across parties. We need citizens to demand better governance regardless of which party is ruling.
S
Sarah B
The point about BMTC data access is crucial! As someone working in tech, I've seen how difficult it is to get real-time transport data. How can we build smart city solutions when basic data isn't available? This affects innovation and urban planning. 🚍
V
Vikram M
BESCOM, BWSSB, BDA - all these parastatals operate like independent kingdoms. No accountability, poor service, and citizens have no recourse. Until these agencies are brought under proper democratic control, Bengaluru's governance will remain broken.
M
Michael C
Living in Whitefield for 5 years now, I've seen how ward committees are completely ineffective. The corporator has all the power while residents' suggestions are just "recommendations" that get ignored. Real decentralization means giving power to local communities.

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