The Karnataka state government has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court stating that the long-pending Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections will be held by the end of November 2025. The government has assured the court that the ward delimitation and reservation process will be completed within the same timeline.
According to the affidavit filed by Tushar Girinath, Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, the ward restructuring and reservation finalization processes may even conclude before the end of November. The government has declared its readiness to conduct elections immediately if the court directs it to do so earlier.
The delay in conducting BBMP polls has been a contentious issue, with several petitions pending before the Supreme Court seeking immediate elections. The latest development comes ahead of the court hearing scheduled for Monday, where a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi is expected to hear the matter.
The BBMP council’s term ended In September 2020, and since then, the city has been functioning under an administrator. The absence of an elected council has drawn criticism from various quarters, especially opposition parties and civic activists, who have accused the state government of deliberately delaying the polls for political convenience. With the affidavit now on record, and the reservation and ward delimitation process nearing completion, the stage appears set for long-overdue BBMP elections. The final decision, however, rests with the Supreme Court, which may soon provide further directions.