GBA likely to seek State government’s intervention to postpone elections

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is likely to seek the State government’s intervention to urge the State Election Commission (SEC) to move the Supreme Court once again for postponement of civic body elections to September, citing administrative constraints and inadequate preparation time.

The move comes after Karnataka State Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi, following a meeting with senior GBA officials on Friday, said the government had been asked to identify feasible dates for conducting the elections within the June 14 to June 24 window.

The announcement has triggered concern among corporation officials, who argue that the timeline is too short given the acute shortage of staff and multiple parallel responsibilities currently being handled by civic authorities. 

Officials pointed out that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, census-related work and monsoon preparedness measures are already under way across the city. They also noted that after the Census process began, instructions were issued not to deploy booth-level officers engaged in Census work for election-related duties. This has further burdened Revenue Department officials, who are simultaneously handling khata-related work bound by a strict timeline.

Tushar Giri Nath, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, told The Hindu that the State government would be approached to seek more time through the SEC. “We will seek State government’s intervention to request the SEC to approach the Supreme Court for three months’ time so that we are better prepared for the elections. Our request through the SEC would be for suitable orders from the Supreme Court, as staff are currently engaged in several other critical activities,” he said. 

GBA Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao said the issue had already been raised with the SEC. “The request has already been made and discussed with the SEC. The government too holds the same view, and we continue to make the same request,” he said. 

Triple test for reservation

Apart from logistical challenges, another hurdle for holding elections in June is the pending reservation roster exercise. 

Under the Supreme Court-mandated “triple test” framework laid down in 2010, States must constitute a dedicated commission to gather empirical data on backwardness, determine reservation quotas based on that data, and ensure that total reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes does not exceed 50% before conducting local body polls.

K.N. Lingappa, former member of the commission, said he had recently filed a petition contending that the State must first complete the triple test exercise. He said the matter is expected to come up before the High Court shortly and maintained that elections cannot proceed without compliance with the requirement.