BANGALORE, MARCH 23: Opposition members of the BJP and Janata Dal (United) on Thursday boycotted the Assembly proceedings and submitted a memorandum to Governor V S Ramadevi urging her not to give her assent to the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, passed by voice vote in the House on Wednesday.After meeting the Governor, Jagadish Shettar (BJP) told newsmen that the Bill was passed without following the rules of procedure and that too when the Opposition was on a dharna on the issue.JD(U) leader P G R Sindhia said the decision on continuing the boycott for the rest of the session would be decided on Friday.The memorandum alleged that the amendment Bill was politically motivated and would lead to unconstitutional activities.Earlier in the day, the Opposition leaders continued their dharna for the third day today when the House began its proceedings. They urged the government to alter its stand on the issue. The House also witnessed noisy scenes and slogan shouting by the Opposition members.Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister D B Chandregowda said the issue was a closed chapter as the Bill had been passed already.The controversial Bill aimed at, among other objectives, withdrawing power from the state Election Commission and empowering district deputy commissioners to hold elections and reduction of the tenure of grama panchayat presidents and vice-presidents from 60 months to 30 months.
