Bengaluru, May 11 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said that a “big guarantee” will be announced for Bengaluru city on May 13, without sharing any further details.
The move comes in the wake of Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday saying elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24, and the exact date will be announced soon.
“With Surjewala, we held a political meeting. But today, I called a meeting of officials and gave certain instructions. On May 13 we are giving a big guarantee for Bengaluru city, I will inform you about it on May 13,” Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in charge of Bengaluru Development, told reporters.
Also, the State Congress Chief, Shivakumar, was responding to a question about a meeting he, CM Siddaramaiah, and a few senior leaders held with AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, regarding the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) polls.
According to party sources, the Congress leaders discussed preparations for the polls, in case the Supreme Court rejects the GBA or the government’s request to postpone the election, citing manpower issues following the SIR and census.
Congress MLA and the CM’s legal advisor, A S Ponnanna, who was also part of the meeting with Surjewala, said holding GBA polls is a “challenge” before the state government, as the officials who will have to conduct the elections are busy with the ongoing SIR and census exercise.
He said the government will try to find a solution to this matter at the Supreme Court by providing it with information on the factual position, and will abide by its decision.
“As the SIR and census are held as per the orders of the central government, officials are participating compulsorily, and it will go on till June, when the officials will make preparations for elections. Holding the election is the challenge before the government of Karnataka,” he told reporters.
Ponnanna stated that the meeting discussed measures for holding the election, such as forming committees and preparing the manifesto. He added that they also discussed what to do if the elections cannot be held now.
“As the matter is before the Supreme Court and as the election has to be held as per the court order, it was discussed about bringing to the notice of the Supreme Court as to how the ongoing SIR and census will hinder conducting elections as per its directions,” he said.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs. PTI KSU ADB
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