Opposition upset with delay in meeting, says mayor should set example of punctuality

BENGALURU: The monthly BBMP council meetings are getting delayed every time by a couple of hours, necessitating extension of proceedings late into the evening. The opposition blames the mayor for not setting the right example in punctuality, while he, said corporators are occupied with ward works and are late to the meeting.
The June 12 meeting was scheduled to start at 10.30am but began an hour late, keeping most corporators waiting.Incidentally, the session began with discussions about punctuality before moving over to civic issues.
Ruling party leader M Shivraj said the meeting normally gets delayed because the corporators are not punctual. “Most councillors cannot come on time because of the work priorities in their wards. The Congress members have been asked to be punctual to the meeting,” he claimed.
A few corporators alleged that the session goes on for long hours, forcing them to stay back for longer hours. “Some corporators suffer from health issues and it’s important that they eat on time. But the session drags on beyond 2pm and they suffer,” said a corporator.
Opposition party leader Padmanabh Reddy, however, blames it all on the mayor. “The mayor never starts the session on time and always keeps us waiting for him. If the mayor comes on time his party members too would be more responsible and be on time. The mayor should first ring the bell, even after that if corporators aren't there, then he should adjourn the meeting,” he said.
Mayor Sampath Raj R claimed he’s present for the meeting in time. “It’s the corporators who come late always. After the code of conduct for the assembly elections ended, these corporators have taken up new projects and their presence at the site matters, forcing them to come late to work. I come to the council at the scheduled time and check if corporators have come or not. In case they have not, I go back to my office and attend to official work,” he claimed.