Karnataka: State Election Commission To Take a Call on Election Date to GBA in a Week
The Commission has done its job of consulting GBA.
Bengaluru: While officials of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) are reluctant to hold elections to its 5 City Corporations and wants a postponement of elections to the civic bodies citing lack of manpower among other reasons but the State Election Commission (SEC) made it clear to GBA that the Commission has to go by the direction of Supreme Court that is to hold elections to 5 city Corporations by June 30 this year.
The State Election Commission is all set to hold elections to 5 City Corporation and a date for conduct to new City Corporations will be announced in a week, said the Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi and he asserted “It is the duty of the Election Commission to announce the date (June 14 to June 24).”
He stated “GBA might have hundreds of problems and it was the duty of the State Election Commission to consult GBA on finalization of a date for elections. The Commission has done its job of consulting GBA.”
A meeting was held in Bengaluru by State Election Commissioner Sangreshi with Member-Secretary and Chief Commissioner of GBA to finalise a date for conducting the elections. After the meeting, Sangreshi told reporters “The meeting was held to decide on a date for holding elections to 5 City Corporations and the Commission wanted GBA to agree on a date from June 14 to June 24 to conduct elections to City Corporations, as per the direction of the Supreme Court.”
On holding elections to GBA, Sangreshi said “The State Election Commissioner has to submit its compliance report to the Supreme Court by June 30.” With regard to postponement of elections sought by GBA, Sangreshi said “The powers are with the Supreme Court and State Election Commission has no powers to postpone elections.”
The GBA officials sought postponement of elections citing ensuing rainy season, ongoing Census, shortage of manpower among other reasons and Sangreshi said “These reasons were earlier cited by GBA as well for postponement of elections.”
The Commissioner said “State Election Commission is ready to conduct elections to GBA. All steps are ready with the Commission. Only the date needs to be fixed.”
