BENGALURU: With the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) election deadline set by the Supreme Court, and DK Shivakumar being sworn in Chief Minister today, concerned citizens and local party representatives are hopeful that elections to the five city corporations will be held without any more delays.
Speaking to TNIE on the recent political development and its ramifications on local polls, Kathyayini Chamraj, Executive Trustee at CIVIC-Bengaluru, said, “Any more delay in local elections will affect local communities, especially the urban poor, from having access to local elected representatives, who usually respond to their needs.
Ward committees and area sabhas meant for local planning and monitoring of funds and works will also be absent.” She added that bureaucrats administering the city corporations will only be accountable to their higher-ups in the GBA and state government.
Srikanth Narasimhan, founder of Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party, said, “Our long-standing demand over the past five-and-half years is that as per the constitution, municipal elections should be held on time. In fact, if elections are delayed by even a day, it is unconstitutional.”
The city has not had a mayor or corporators since 2020. He added that in the absence of local elected representatives, there has been no focus on civic amenities, no accountability for things going from bad to worse, and no platform for planning the right solutions for the city’s woes.
“This delay has resulted in the city’s situation worsening every passing day. Any further delay will take things to a point where deterioration starts becoming irreversible. Enough of excuses, we want the election to be held on time,” he further stated.
Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, a civic voice in Bengaluru, said, “I think local governance is what the Constitution eventually meant to happen. There’s a lot we can do when we’re decentralised. Even though the GBA seems to be decentralised, just try to access your commissioners. Your elected representatives will always represent democracy. Your bureaucrat has other issues.”
The common gripe of all the respondents was that this is an unconstitutional harm done to the city’s people. However, more than anything, they hope for an end to the uncertainty and the resumption of local politics.
Sanath Kadalayil