Work on Greater B’luru polls in 4 months: D K Shivakumar

Mysuru: Preparations to hold the much-delayed civic polls in Bengaluru will be done over the next four months, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar said on Friday.

However, when asked when the elections will be held, Shivakumar was non-committal on an exact timeline.

“It will take more time if we add new areas to the civic limits. So elections will be held to the current BBMP area after dividing it into multiple corporations. Elections will be held taking everyone into confidence,” he said.

Shivakumar further said that the new corporations, zonal divisions and reservation list will be worked on first, following which elections can be held. He indicated that this process may take another four months.

“There is no point in postponing the elections,” he said.

Responding to criticism by the Opposition leader R Ashok to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, he asked why the Opposition had allowed the Bill to be passed in the assembly.

Shivakumar further claimed that everyone will be taken along during the transition process.

“We will hold an all-party meeting and take their feedback on formation of corporations. The legislators have already given their suggestions in the House. As much as 90% of the recommendations by the Cabinet Sub Committee has been considered,” he said.

The Urban Development Department has notified that the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 has come into effect from May 15. It has also notified that the current BBMP area will be the new Greater Bengaluru Area.

The GBG Act proposes formation of three tiers of civic authorities. While the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will function as the apex body headed by the Chief Minister, there will be smaller municipal corporations at the mid-tier level, and ward committees at the lowest level.

The Act mandates the formation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) within 120 days.

While the act allows for the creation of up to seven city corporations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Thursday, indicated that the current BBMP will be divided into three corporations. Until the formation of new corporations, BBMP will continue to function as it is.

The last civic body elections were held in 2015 and the city has been under the administrator rule for nearly five years as there have been no elections since September 2020.