Hans News Service Bengaluru

TheKarnataka Government has approached the Supreme Court seeking an extension of time to conduct elections to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), citing the ongoing revision of electoral rolls and administrative challenges.

The State has requested the apex court to modify its May 20, 2026 order, which directed the government to complete the elections by August 31, 2026. Instead, the government has sought permission to hold the elections by December 31, 2026, stating that completing the electoral process within the stipulated deadline would not be feasible.

In its application, the government submitted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list is currently in progress and that the exercise, along with other administrative and logistical constraints, has affected election preparedness.

It argued that additional time is required to complete the statutory procedures before conducting the GBA elections.

The move has drawn criticism from the Opposition, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) accusing the Congress government of deliberately postponing the polls.

Opposition leaders alleged that the government is delaying the elections out of concern over its electoral prospects in the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority. The State’s request is now pending before the Supreme Court, and the court’s decision on the plea will determine whether the deadline for conducting the GBA elections is extended beyond August 31, 2026.