Bengaluru: After a prolonged period without elected representatives, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is poised to conduct elections by the end of this year. This development follows the state government’s introduction of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, which aims to restructure the city’s administrative framework.
The BBMP has been under administrative oversight since September 2020, with elections repeatedly deferred due to various legislative and administrative challenges. The previous government’s efforts, including the enactment of a separate BBMP Act and subsequent ward delimitation processes, contributed to these delays.
The current administration’s proposal involves expanding the BBMP’s jurisdiction to incorporate new areas and dividing it into multiple municipal corporations, potentially ranging from three to five entities. This restructuring necessitates the creation of new wards, rendering the existing 223 wards obsolete. Depending on the final structure, each new corporation would comprise between 75 to 125 wards.
The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill is in its final stages and is expected to be presented during the Legislative Assembly session in March. Upon its passage, the government intends to initiate the electoral process, with a tentative timeline suggesting elections could occur as early as August or September. An affidavit has been submitted to the Supreme Court outlining this proposed schedule.
This anticipated electoral exercise is a significant step toward reinstating democratic governance in Bengaluru’s municipal administration, aiming to enhance civic services and address the city’s evolving infrastructural needs.
Dhanya Reddy S
Alma Media School Student
