Decks to be cleared for polls to Greater Bengaluru Authority in four months, assures D.K. Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy CM assures elections for Greater Bengaluru Authority within four months, seeks all-party suggestions for division and reservation.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday (May 16, 2025) said the Karnataka government will make all arrangements for holding polls to the newly created Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) in four months.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Mr. Shivakumar, who is also Minister in-charge of Bengaluru Development, said the government will soon take up the issues of “reservation” and “division” of the Authority.

“Elections have to be conducted. There is no point in delaying them. Within four months, all the arrangements will be made for conducting the elections,” he said.

Soon, an all-party meeting will be called and suggestions from leaders of different political parties will be sought on various issues, including division of the Authority.

He said members of the Opposition had cooperated with the ruling party in the Legislature and even gave their suggestions on the Greater Bengaluru Authority Bill. A Cabinet sub-committee had also been formed and most of the suggestions given by the Opposition leaders had been accommodated.

“We will take everyone into confidence”, Mr Shivakumar said before replying in the affirmative when reporters asked him if elections to the GBA will be conducted this year. “We have taken a decision to conduct the elections early,” he said.

Though new areas had to be included into the GBA, the government had not taken up the issue to avoid delays arising out of seeking permission of the other local bodies like municipalities and panchayats. “We can add the new areas later,” he said adding that a notification on creation of GBA has been issued on the basis of existing areas.