Karnataka Government Sets Four-Month Deadline for Bengaluru Municipal Elections
Mysuru/Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Friday that, following the implementation of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, preparations will commence for elections to multiple municipal corporations aimed at effectively managing the city within the next four months.
As the minister responsible for Bengaluru Development, Shivakumar emphasized that the process for establishing a reservation list and delineating the boundaries of the new municipal corporations will begin shortly. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act permits the formation of up to seven municipal corporations, with indications suggesting that the government may opt to establish three.
Notably, Bengaluru has been without an elected municipal council since September 2020.
“We will soon initiate the process for the reservation list and the division of the city into multiple corporations. It is imperative that we conduct these elections without delay. We are committed to making the necessary arrangements within four months,” Shivakumar stated.
In a press briefing, he also mentioned plans to convene an all-party meeting to gather input on the division of the city into multiple corporations.
“Our approach will be inclusive, ensuring that all stakeholders are taken into account as we move forward. However, it has been decided that elections must be held as soon as possible. Delaying this process serves no purpose. While there was a proposal to incorporate new areas into Greater Bengaluru, pursuing that now would only prolong the timeline. Therefore, we will proceed with the current boundaries of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP),” he added.
The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, officially came into effect on May 15, establishing the new Greater Bengaluru Area as the region currently governed by the BBMP, as outlined in the recent notification.
All functionaries will retain their existing powers and responsibilities as outlined in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Act of 2020 until the new legislation is fully enacted.
In the interim, the BBMP will continue to operate under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which is anticipated to be established shortly, according to official sources.
The Act stipulates a timeframe of 120 days for the formation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
Recently, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill was passed by both houses of the state legislature, despite opposition from the BJP. This legislation aims to restructure the BBMP by dividing it into a maximum of seven city corporations within the Greater Bengaluru Area.
Additionally, the bill provides for the establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to facilitate coordination and oversight, and it sets a term of 30 months for both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
The GBA will be chaired by the Chief Minister, who will serve as the ex-officio chairperson, while the minister responsible for Bengaluru development will act as the ex-officio vice-chairperson.
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