The Karnataka State Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court that it is unable to conduct the Bengaluru civic elections by the June 30 deadline due to a lack of funds and staff. In an application submitted to the apex court, the commission stated that it is completely dependent on the state government and its authorities to provide logistical support, staff, infrastructure, and funds required for the election process.
Dependence on State Government
The election body emphasized that without adequate resources from the government, it cannot proceed with the elections for the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and other civic bodies. The application highlighted that the commission relies entirely on the state administration for the deployment of personnel, availability of polling stations, and financial allocation.
Supreme Court's Directive
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the state election commission to complete the civic polls by June 30. However, the commission's latest submission indicates that this timeline may not be feasible without immediate intervention from the government. The court is likely to hear the matter further to address the deadlock.
The development comes amid ongoing political tensions in Karnataka, with opposition parties accusing the state government of delaying the elections deliberately. The civic polls are crucial for the democratic functioning of Bengaluru, India's IT hub, which has been without an elected body for several months.
The commission's application also noted that previous attempts to conduct elections were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent administrative challenges. However, with the current financial and staffing constraints, the commission has sought the court's guidance on the way forward.
As the June 30 deadline approaches, all eyes are on the Supreme Court's next move, which could potentially extend the timeline or direct the state government to release necessary funds and personnel.
