Bengaluru: Citizens and civic activists have taken strong exception to the possibility that the state govt could place an affidavit before the apex court seeking more time to conduct civic polls in the city.The Supreme Court has placed a deadline of June 30 for elections to the five city corporations under Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). However, the govt might be approaching the court to extend the deadline, citing Census 2027.Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party founder and general secretary Srikanth Narasimhan said the top court had already extended an earlier deadline and specified that this would be the “final indulgence” on this matter. “Be it BJP earlier or Congress now, they have found creative ways over the past six years to keep delaying these elections,” he said, adding that it is now up to the judiciary to uphold the Constitution.Aspirants looking to contest the upcoming polls feel the elections cannot be delayed as the city is already witnessing poor infrastructure and endless grievances. Naveen Iyer, a civic leader and aspiring corporator from Rajajinagar, said, “We are already witnessing the consequences of not having an elected corporator in our wards. Day by day, civic issues are increasing with no direct accountability. While administrative responsibilities like census are important, they should not come at the cost of democratic processes. Elections are the backbone of grassroots governance, and any delay weakens the connection between people and administration.”Access to local elected representatives is another point that citizens are raising. Trade activist Sajjan Raj Mehta said: “We cannot contact MLAs and MPs for civic issues. It is the elected corporator who needs to respond to such problems. Responsive and accountable local leadership will play a key role in addressing the city’s pressing challenges and improving citizen welfare.”He also highlighted the recent comparison of Bengaluru with cities like Hyderabad. “The city may be lagging behind due to collapsing infrastructure. Newly elected corporators and mayors will help the city grow as they will have to work efficiently to prove themselves,” he added.GBA chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao declined to comment on the matter, saying it will be addressed directly by govt.
