Govt yet to fix ward reservation for Urban local bodies

The elections for 108 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), including three city corporations, is unlikely to held before the end of their term, if the state government further delays fixing the ward reservation.

Term of these ULBs is set to end on September 3 this year. Elections to these bodies have to be held and a new council has to be in place before that date. But the government has been delaying fixing the reservation for various categories.

The State Election Commission (SEC) can conduct the elections only after the reservation is fixed. Of the 108 ULBs, the reservation has been fixed with respect to only city corporations – Tumakuru, Shivamogga and Mysuru.

“We have made all preparations for conducting the elections. Notification for the polls will be issued once the reservation is announced,” State Election Commissioner P N Srinivasachary said.

Elections to ULBs were last held in February 2013. Term of ULBs commences from the date of first council meeting. Of the total 274 ULBs in the state, first council meeting of 108 ULBs were held on September 3 2013.Hence, the elections for these ULBs have to be conducted before that date. Elections to the remaining ULBs should be conducted before March next year, he pointed out.

SEC moves court

Fearing that the polls may get delayed, the SEC has approached the Karnataka High Court, seeking a direction to the government for providing ward reservation information.

“The government had submitted before the court that it will give the information by July first week. But so far the SEC has not received it. So we will once again approach the court, the commissioner said. He said the SEC has made all preparations for conducting the elections.