The Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has submitted its factual report to the Regional Commissioner’s office following demands from Kannada organisations for the supersession of the civic body.
The report was sent in soft copy on Thursday, followed by submission of the two-page printed report on Friday. The Regional Commissioner’s office is now expected to examine the report before deciding the next course of action.
The development follows a direction issued by Regional Commissioner K.M. Janaki seeking a factual report from BCC Commissioner M. Kartik on complaints raised by the Belagavi Zilla Kannada Sanghatanegala Kriya Samiti. The organisations had sought government intervention and recommended supersession of the corporation, alleging an administrative crisis arising from the repeated postponement of general body meetings.
The issue gained momentum after the BCC went nearly three months without a general body meeting. The organisations alleged that several development-related matters were being held up and linked the postponement of meetings to the demand for a resolution declaring Belagavi an integral part of Karnataka.
The corporation eventually convened its general body meeting on August 18, but proceedings were disrupted by heated exchanges over the proposed pro-Karnataka resolution. The meeting was subsequently adjourned indefinitely.
The factual report submitted by the civic administration is understood to address the issues raised by the Regional Commissioner, including the functioning of the corporation, the reasons for the delay in conducting meetings and the allegations made by the Kannada organisations. The contents of the report, however, have not been made public.
The Regional Commissioner’s assessment of the report will now be closely watched. If the administration’s explanation establishes that the corporation is functioning within the applicable framework and that there is no continuing administrative breakdown, it could weaken the demand for supersession. On the other hand, if the report points to serious or continuing deficiencies, the matter could be taken up with the state government for further action.
The demand for supersession comes amid sustained protests by Kannada organisations seeking a resolution stating that Belagavi is an integral and inseparable part of Karnataka. The organisations have been pressing the issue since March and had also urged the government to intervene in the functioning of the corporation.
Meanwhile, the BCC has continued its administrative processes, including the recent election of 28 standing committee members and the subsequent election of chairpersons for all four standing committees.
The immediate focus is now on the Regional Commissioner’s findings and whether the report submitted by the BCC will lead to any recommendation to the state government regarding the demand for supersession.