Karnataka: Govt will hold all local body polls this year, says Dy CM Shivakumar

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Thursday that the government would hold all local body polls this year, including for the five newly formed independent corporations in Bengaluru.

His statement underscores the ruling Congress’s confidence arising from the impressive performance by the party in the local body polls in Kerala, last month. Shivakumar, who is also the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) told the media that the party was better placed now as the government has delivered an unprecedented level of projects across Bengaluru. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the city during his recent visit, he added.

Shivakumar is also in charge of Bengaluru City affairs.


The government has been postponing elections to Bengaluru’s erstwhile civic body BBMP on one pretext or the other after the five-year term of the elected council ended in September 2020. Five corporations replaced the BBMP on September 2. They will together have 369 municipal wards.

Shivakumar has asked ticket aspirants to apply by January 15. The party has fixed an application fee of Rs 50,000 for general candidates, and Rs 25,000 for women and SC/ST candidates. He said the party will use the funds collected from the sale of application forms, to build party offices across the state.

The Dy CM has also called for at least 10 applications from women from each ward.

He had, recently, said that the government would have to conduct zilla and taluk panchayat elections in the next two to three months.