2 weeks ago
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The Karnataka State Election Commission that had precocious said civic polls successful Bengaluru volition beryllium held betwixt June 14 and 24, has present filed an exertion earlier the Supreme Court seeking hold of clip till September 30 to clasp the polls “in the interests of justness and equity”.
It said GBA’s petition for hold of the deadline citing National Census-2024 and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is “bona fide”.
The word of the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) assembly expired successful September 2020 and determination person been nary elections since then. The Supreme Court had, successful January 2026, acceptable a June 30 deadline for the civic polls successful the city. However, the Chief Commissioner, Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), has sought hold of this deadline by 3 months citing Census and SIR some scheduled successful April-May.
The SEC, successful its exertion earlier the apex court, said: “The concerns expressed by the State authorities authorities prima facie look to beryllium genuine arsenic the Union authorities ordered Census, and SIR is occupying the full clip and logistics of the authorities who are besides entrusted with the responsibilities of assisting the State Election Commission to behaviour the elections. Hence, determination is hold successful holding the elections and the hold of clip sought is bona fide.”
“Due to the deployment of the manpower by the State authorities for the intent of conducting Census, Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, etc., the required manpower and logistics whitethorn beryllium unavailable with the State government. It is therefore, astir humbly prayed that an further 3 months’ clip whitethorn kindly beryllium granted by this Hon’ble Court for concluding the elections,” it further said.
However, the SEC repeatedly emphasised that they had taken measures to clasp elections wrong the deadline. “It is submitted and reiterated again that the State Election Commission has taken proactive steps to reason the elections arsenic directed by this Hon’ble Court,” the exertion said. The SEC further said it turned down petition for much clip by the GBA and the State authorities twice. It said the GBA Commissioner, who is besides the District Election Officer for the city, requested hold of the deadline adjacent during the May 8 consultative meeting.
