Hit the ground, special team is watching: K'taka Congress chief DK Shivakumar to ticket aspirants
Bengaluru, Sep 16: Stressing the need to hit the ground, Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar on Friday made it clear to his partymen including the sitting legislators and aspirants that it was the most important criteria for the candidacy to 2023 Assembly polls in the State.
He was addressing a meeting of KPCC office-bearers and Bharat Jodo Yatra coordinators, as the march would enter the State through Chamarajanagar district on September 30.
"...I have told all MLAs there is no bargain...AICC has officially appointed a separate team under Sunil (political strategist Sunil Kanugolu) to do a political analysis. Rahul Gandhi had called us leaders and said a team has been constituted. There are 600 people across all constituencies, two or three in every constituency," Shivakumar said.
Stating that they would not identify with anyone and are watching everyone, he said they already have mapped every constituency, and are calculating the fate of the sitting, the defeated, and those aspiring to be MLAs.
"Every seat is important for us, some might be thinking no one can do anything to them in their constituency, including sitting MLAs. I'm telling them that it's an illusion," he said pointing out that in Kerala almost 13 sitting MLAs were removed from the list and youngsters given a chance.
Noting that for the Bharat Jodo Yatra, every MLA is tasked with mobilising 5,000 people, Shivakumar took a dig at some party colleagues for their lack of keenness, and specifically named senior MLA and former KPCC chief R V Deshpande.
"Deshpande said he can't (get people), because his constituency is too far. I said nothing doing...Can't we just do this for one day for the sake of Rahul Gandhi?" he asked.
The KPCC chief said leaders and party workers who cannot work on the ground would be rested.
He listed out the work done and events organised by KPCC aimed at strengthening the party under his presidency.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
