BANGALORE: The decision on reservation of presidents and vice-presidents in urban civic bodies would be finalised in the next 15 days, Urban Development Minister B B Chimmanakatti said on Monday.

Talking to mediapersons here, Chimmanakatti said the Cabinet sub-committee, headed by him, would meet within five days. He said the posts would be reserved on a rotation basis.

He said for the first time the Government would organise a seminar for elected representatives this month and manuals would be circulated to them highlighting their role and responsibilities. The Government would also amend the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act to help resource mobilisation by urban civic bodies.

Stating that property tax evasion was about 50 per cent of actuals, the Minister said tax collections were expected to cross Rs 300 crore after the amendment.

Meanwhile, Chimmanakatti maintained that the Congress had secured an absolute majority in 98 of the 148 urban civic bodies that went to polls on May 3.

Chimmanakatti said the Congress was the single largest party in eight other civic bodies and it would be in a position to rule with the support of independents who were inclined to support it.

Of the 32 city municipal councils, 24 would be controlled by the Congress and 59 of the 76 town municipal councils would have the Congress in power. In 24 of the 35 town panchayats, the Congress had gained a majority, he claimed.

He said the party had performed very well as it had won 1,701 wards out of 3,699 for which results had been announced compared to 722 wards in the previous elections.

He welcomed Janata Dal (Secular) president Siddaramaiah's statement on extending support to the Congress to keep the Bharatiya Janata party at bay.