'Let Them Do Whatever They Want': Sivakumar Dismisses BJP-JDS Threat Ahead Of Bengaluru Civic Polls

Last Updated:January 13, 2026, 13:24 IST

Karnataka is gearing up for a potential May election window, carefully timed between school examinations and the onset of the monsoon

Shivakumar emphasised that the administration is committed to upholding the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which mandate regular elections for local self-governments. (Image: News18)

Following the Supreme Court’s firm directive to conclude municipal elections by June 30, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the state government is fully prepared to head to polls. Addressing the media on Friday, Shivakumar emphasised that the administration is committed to upholding the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, which mandate regular elections for local self-governments. While noting that the State Election Commission has filed an affidavit regarding the timeline, the Deputy Chief Minister clarified that while the final schedule rests with the Commission, the government has officially signaled its readiness to proceed with the Greater Bengaluru Area (GBA) and other local body polls.

The Deputy Chief Minister dismissed concerns regarding technical hurdles and reservation discrepancies, stating that specialised committees are in place to address any objections. “If there are differences in the reservation list, I will instruct officials to identify and rectify them," Shivakumar stated, adding that the government would not interfere with the autonomous functioning of the Election Commission. For the Congress party, he framed the upcoming elections as a vital duty to empower grassroots workers and cultivate a new generation of leadership. “We are confident of winning all five corporations based on the work we have done for Bengaluru and our guarantee schemes," he asserted.

Shivakumar appeared unfazed by the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular). Commenting on their unified front, he remarked, “Let them do whatever they want, fight together or separately. It is better if they fight together like they did in Parliament and Assembly elections; a direct head-to-head contest is always better for us." The Deputy Chief Minister’s confidence stems from a belief that a consolidated opposition clarifies the choice for voters.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy echoed this optimism, highlighting the Congress party’s “deep-rooted contributions" to Bengaluru’s infrastructure. Reddy pointed out that while the previous BJP administration left the city burdened with Rs 6,000 crore in debt and mortgaged public buildings, the current government has worked to clear those liabilities. “We brought the Airport and the Metro to this city," Reddy said, further detailing plans for a 50-kilometre flyover and innovative tunnel roads to alleviate traffic. He dismissed the opposition’s criticism of the tunnel road project by pointing to its successful implementation in Mumbai, noting that the party’s focus remains on solving waste management issues and fostering employment for women.

As the state gears up for a potential May election window, carefully timed between school examinations and the onset of the monsoon, Minister Reddy noted that a massive influx of applications from aspiring candidates has already been received. He pointed to the party’s recent success in the teacher constituency elections, where Congress secured four out of six seats, as a harbinger of things to come. “If people vote based on development, we will win all five corporations," Reddy concluded, maintaining that the Congress’s vision for ‘Brand Bengaluru’ remains the most viable path forward for the city’s residents.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka who is an MLA from Padmanabhanagar in Bengaluru hit out at the state government and said that the Congress party would be decimated in the IT city of local body polls are held. “It is a guarantee that Congress will bite the dust in the GBA elections. The people of Bengaluru are waiting to teach a fitting lesson to the Congress party, which has brought a slur to ‘Brand Bengaluru’ by turning our global city into a city of garbage, a city of potholes, and a city of goons. The BJP is completely ready for the GBA elections, and I am confident that the enlightened and mature voters of Bengaluru will bless the BJP in a big way."

News politics 'Let Them Do Whatever They Want': Sivakumar Dismisses BJP-JDS Threat Ahead Of Bengaluru Civic Polls

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