Bengaluru, 13 Jan

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the State government will go by the Supreme Court’s directive and hold the long-pending elections to the five city corporations, under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), before 30 June.

Shivakumar said at Palace Grounds on Tuesday that the government was prepared to hold the polls and would not seek an extension. “We need to conduct Zilla and Taluk panchayat elections also and we will whatever is necessary under the 73rd and 74th Amendment of the Constitution.”

DKS, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said, “We will give necessary directions to the State Election Commission…. The State Election Commission has submitted an affidavit before the (Supreme) Court and that issue is left to them.”

The tenure of the earlier elected body, under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), expired on 10 September, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been taking care of its day-to-day affairs.

Asked about technical objections, he said, “Some people have submitted technical objections, we have formed a committee and it will look into it…. There is a talk that reservation for women is not adequate, we will direct them to look into it. We will not interfere.”

Shivakumar expressed confidence that the Congress would win. “We are preparing new leaders by empowering party workers.”

He also reiterated that BJP and JD(S) should contest the polls together, saying it would be better for the Congress.