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The confrontation between the state legislature and the state election commission over conducting elections to Urban Local Bodies escalated on Wednesday with a section of members of the Legislative Assembly moving a privilege motion against State Election Commissioner (SEC) C R Chikkamath for “disgracing” the House and also demanding his impeachment.

Soon after zero hour, Sarvabhouma Bagali (BJP) moved the privilege motion in the Assembly, stating that the SEC sought to conduct ULB elections based on 2007 reservation pattern though the House on Tuesday adopted an unanimous resolution to defer the elections till the 2011 population figures were published. Speaker K G Bopaiah reserved his ruling on the privilege motion.

During lunch break, Chikkamath met Bopaiah, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and Opposition leaders at Vidhana Soudha, and conveyed his stand that deferring the polls was out of the question as per the Supreme Court direction. 

“I have to conduct the elections. Its a constitutional obligation. As of now the elections will have to be held as per the reservation pattern of 2007. I have sought reports from deputy commissioners on their preparedness. Once the reports are received, we will announce the calender of events”, Chikkamath told reporters, who sought his reaction.

The Supreme Court, last week, had cleared the decks for holding the ULB elections  immediately.

It refused to direct the SEC to defer the elections till publication of 2011 population census figures.Chikkamath also pointed out that the government was duty bound to provide him required personnel to conduct the polls.

Earlier, MLAs cutting across party lines, criticised the SEC for misinterpreting the Supreme Court directive and argued that if elections were held at this juncture, women, Dalit and OBC aspirants would suffer grave injustice. They also said that the election dates would clash with  school examinations and adversely hit teachers, whose role was vital in conducting both the exams and elections. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah said, “The Election Commissioner is not above the law. He cannot show disrespect to the House. He should be summoned to the House...”

Congress MLA T B Jayachandra said that this had become a “fight between political bosses and civil servants”. “He should have at least consulted the Speaker before initiating the election process. Instead, he has taken a suo motu decision. Disregarding the House attracts contempt. The civil servant is egoist,” he charged.