As SC sets deadline for Greater Bengaluru Authority polls, leaders await clarity on ward delimitation, reservations

The last civic elections in Bengaluru were held in August 2015, and its tenure ended in 2020. Since then, legal issues and governance restructuring have delayed the polls, prompting the government to appoint IAS officers as administrators. Between 2001 and 2025, only three elections were held to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), instead of five. While earlier, the BBMP had 198 seats, with the formation of the GBA, the civic polls will now be held in 369 wards.

Will do what is necessary: D K Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Urban Development Minister said Tuesday that the government is prepared to conduct the elections. “The State Election Commission (SEC) has submitted an affidavit before the court and that issue is left to them. The government will give all necessary directions. We need to conduct zilla, taluk and panchayat elections as well, and we will do whatever is necessary under the 73rd and 74th amendment of the Constitution (which grants constitutional status to rural and urban local self-government bodies),” he said.

Amid a slew of objections over renaming, and disputes regarding the coverage of wards and the reservation matrix, Shivakumar said, “Some people have submitted technical objections. We have formed a committee to look into it… There is a talk that reservation for women is not adequate. We will direct them to look into it. We will not interfere.”

Asked if the government would seek more time from the court, the deputy chief minister said he would not ask for extra time.

With over a decade having passed since the last polls, political parties are also facing challenges, even as the number of ticket aspirants has increased substantially. The Congress alone has received 759 applications from hopefuls.

The question of BJP-JD(S) alliance

Meanwhile, allies BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) have not clarified whether they would fight separately or together. BJP has set up committees and appointed leaders to decide candidates in each city corporation. The JD(S) has also held several meetings – within the party and with the BJP – to discuss whether an alliance would be fruitful.

A source in the BJP said that even though the party brass will take the final decision, at the state-level, its leaders wish to go it alone. “There is a good cadre base and if we go with the alliance, a lot of fresh faces may lose the chance, which could result in discouraging the local leadership and may affect the voter base. The message has been communicated to the high command as well,” the leader said.

Replying to a question on a ‘friendly fight’ between the BJP and the JD(S), Shivakumar said, “Let them do whatever they want – fight separately or together. There would be a direct fight if they have the same arrangement they had for Parliamentary elections.”