Bengaluru, February 22: Karnataka Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday said that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections must be held this May, "whether we like it or not." The city has not had an elected municipal council since September 2020. "This September, it will be five years without BBMP elections," said Reddy, the senior-most MLA in Bengaluru, who represents BTM Layout, when asked about the delay in holding the elections.

Noting that during S M Krishna's tenure as Chief Minister, elections were held on time in 2001, and again under the previous Siddaramaiah government in 2015, he said, "When the BJP was in power in 2008, elections were delayed by 2.8 years. Similarly, the BJP government did not hold polls in 2020." Defending the Congress government regarding the delay, Reddy said that the postponement is due to the government's plans to create a Greater Bengaluru Authority. Maharashtra Suspends MSRTC Bus Services to Karnataka After Attack on ST Bus Near Belagavi.

"We have to hold elections in May, whether we like it or not. Otherwise, the Supreme Court will issue directions (to conduct the polls)," he said in response to a question. In July last year, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill was referred to a joint select committee headed by Shivajinagar Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad. The committee is likely to submit its report to Assembly Speaker U T Khader on Monday. Maharashtra Suspends State Bus Services to Karnataka After Attack on MSRTC Bus by Pro-Kannada Activists.

The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill allows for the creation of up to 10 municipal corporations in Bengaluru. Reddy also expressed his opinion that the city must have multiple corporations. "If we want to serve the people of Bengaluru, a single corporation will definitely not be enough. One commissioner cannot oversee the entire city. We need two or three corporations to ensure proper roads, streetlights, parks, playgrounds, and stormwater drains," he said.

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