With the State Election Commission going ahead with plans to hold much-awaited civic polls in Bengaluru next month, political parties in Karnataka have begun aggressive preparations for what is expected to become a major election contest and an early indicator of political momentum ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
The BJP accelerated its campaign planning on Sunday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met elected representatives, aspirants and senior party leaders from Bengaluru during his visit to the city. The party has scheduled a strategy meeting on May 15 involving MLAs, MPs and city office bearers to discuss candidate selection and election management for the Greater Bengaluru Corporation elections.
Elections to the five Greater Bengaluru Authority corporations are initially expected to be held between June 14 and 24, according to state Election Commissioner GS Sangreshi, after the Supreme Court ordered the entire process to be completed before June 30.
While the BJP has begun mobilizing its organisation, the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) have also begun groundwork for the elections, which will be the first civic vote in Bengaluru since the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike ceased having an elected body in 2020.
The stakes are extraordinarily high for all parties. Bengaluru accounts for nearly one-sixth of Karnataka’s population, contributes nearly 40% to the state’s GDP and includes 28 Assembly constituencies along with four Lok Sabha seats, including Bengaluru Rural.
For the ruling Congress, the elections are expected to become the most crucial political test yet for Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru development portfolio. Unlike the recent Assembly polls, where the Congress party campaigned under a collective leadership, the state of infrastructure in Bengaluru is closely linked to the Shivakumar administration.
Congressional leaders believe that welfare guarantees may continue to retain support among sectors of the electorate, but they privately acknowledge that urban voters are likely to focus more sharply on civic issues such as roads, flooding, waste management, water shortages and traffic congestion.
The timing of the elections could also create difficulties for the government. Heavy monsoon rains routinely expose infrastructure failures in Bengaluru, where potholes and floods have become recurring flashpoints of political tension. Last month, seven people were killed after a compound wall at Bowring Hospital collapsed during heavy rain, while hundreds of trees were uprooted across the city.
However, the State Election Commission maintained that it is adhering to the Supreme Court order and is proceeding with preparations accordingly.
Speaking to reporters, Sangreshi said the process of fixing the election schedule has officially begun and consultations have already been held with the government and Greater Bengaluru Authority officials under the provisions of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act.
He said officials from the civil administration cited practical difficulties including monsoon, ongoing examinations, census work, revision of electoral rolls and staff shortages while requesting additional time.
However, Sangreshi said the commission would follow the Supreme Court’s directions to complete the elections before June 30. “The final leniency has already been granted. The compliance report has to be submitted to the Supreme Court by June 30. We will be ready on our part,” he said.
He explained that the meeting held by the Commission aimed only to set the election schedule and not to discuss postponing the elections. “The Supreme Court’s directions leave no room for postponement,” he said.
The Greater Bengaluru Corporation elections will be held across 369 wards in five corporations created under the Greater Bengaluru Governance Code, 2024, which replaced the BBMP structure. According to electoral lists released in April, approximately 89,000 voters are eligible to participate in the elections, which will be conducted using paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.
Meanwhile, the BJP has begun shaping its campaign around dissatisfaction with infrastructure and civic administration in Bengaluru. Karnataka BJP president P Vijayendra accused the Congress government of failing to fulfill the promises made under the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative.
“There are many issues that need to be taken before the people, including bad roads, garbage and water problems. We will fight not just to win the elections, but for the benefit of the citizens of Bengaluru who are fed up with the Congress government,” he said.
“The government promised ‘Brand Bengaluru’ but failed to deliver. We are determined to win all five companies under the GBA,” Vijayendra added.
Opposition leader R. Ashoka said the BJP has already formed constituency-level committees to recommend candidates for each ward. “We have already formed constituency-level committees that will field a panel of three candidates each. The party will finalize the candidates in the coming days,” Ashoka said.
