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

The Hindu

16-05-2025

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.
All-party meeting soon
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.
Criticism from Opposition BJP
With regard to the critical remarks made by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on the creation of GBA, Mr. Shivakumar said the Opposition leaders could have raised their objections earlier. He said the Opposition leaders had given suggestions when the matter was discussed in the Legislature.
Pointing out that the Opposition leaders were speaking against GBA because they were in the Opposition, Mr. Shivakmar said Mr. Ashok was an important leader of Bengaluru and the government will respect his views.
On the issue of renaming of Ramanagara district, Mr Shivakumar said there has been no delay in the process. 'All the procedures were going on and an announcement in the regard will be made at an auspicious moment,' he said, while adding that the renaming process will be carried out under law.
Special session on India-Pak conflict
Meanwhile, Mr Shivakumar reiterated the Congress party's demand for a special session of the Parliament to discuss the conflict with Pakistan and the ceasefire between the two nations.
He claimed that other countries were interfering in the affairs of India and the country had never tolerated such interference since the time of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. So, a special session of the Parliament should be conducted to discuss the matter, he said.