In a clear move to prepare for long-pending urban and rural local body elections in Karnataka, the state Congress unit has officially kicked off its candidate selection process. Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, DK Shivakumar, announced on Sunday that the party has begun distributing application forms for aspirants wishing to contest in the upcoming Greater Bengaluru City Corporation elections.
Application Process and Fee Structure Announced
Addressing party workers during the Congress Foundation Day celebrations in Bengaluru, Shivakumar laid out the details. The party has set an application fee of Rs 50,000 for candidates from the general category. For applicants belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the fee has been fixed at Rs 25,000. The last date for submitting these applications is January 15.
Shivakumar issued a stern warning to potential candidates, urging them not to delay. "The applications for Bengaluru elections were distributed from Sunday. Don't wait for the government to finalise the reservation of wards, as the procedure is due. Apply now, otherwise this DK Shivakumar will not recognise you regardless of how big a leader you are," he stated emphatically.
Push for Panchayat Elections and Women's Representation
Beyond the city limits, Shivakumar revealed that the party leadership has directed Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge to take necessary steps to conduct elections for Zilla Panchayats and Taluk Panchayats. These elections have been delayed since May 2021. Shivakumar expressed confidence that, after resolving some legal hurdles concerning reservations currently pending in court, these rural local body polls could be held within the next two to three months.
Highlighting the importance of women's participation, Shivakumar reminded aspirants that 50% of Bengaluru's 369 wards are reserved for women. He encouraged strong participation, suggesting that at least ten women candidates should apply for a ticket from each ward. He also mentioned that the application fee for women was reduced to Rs 25,000 following requests from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Energy Minister KJ George, who were present on the stage.
Fund Utilization and Broader Political Agenda
The funds collected through these application fees will be channeled into a significant party infrastructure project. Shivakumar recalled that during the 2023 assembly polls, the party collected Rs 20 crore through application fees (set at Rs 2 lakh per application). The money from the current and past drives is earmarked for constructing party offices at the district level (Rs 20 crore) and a new state headquarters (Rs 60 crore). The party also plans to fund the construction of offices at the taluk level.
Shivakumar also touched upon other political issues, stating the Congress party's support for reviving student unions in colleges. He mentioned that a panel of senior legislators has been formed to study the matter. Furthermore, both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar criticized the BJP-led central government's move to rename the MNREGA scheme. They reiterated the Congress's plan to launch a statewide agitation against the decision, a resolution passed at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday.
This proactive initiation of the candidate selection process signals the Congress party's readiness for the much-delayed local body elections, which are likely to be held before the summer of 2026. The Bengaluru civic polls were originally due in September 2020 under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) administration.
