Creation of GBA leads to turf war between BJP and Congress

BENGALURU: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has finally come into existence and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) assigned to the pages of history. The city has now been divided into five municipal corporations, and the delimitation of 28 Assembly constituencies is under way.

The government has already submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding the delimitation and elections for the five municipal corporations are expected to be held in January-February next year after the wards are demarcated.

A new chapter unfolds for Namma Bengaluru

As we transition from BBMP to GBA, visited the GBA Main office today and unveiled the new board of the same. Truly an honour and proud feeling to witness dreams translate into reality. With GBA, we will deliver transparency,… pic.twitter.com/C6cwiUVOSa

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) September 3, 2025

The creation of the GBA has sparked a political conflict between BJP and Congress. The BJP, which has already strongly opposed the formation of GBA and the division of BBMP, is now anxious about the upcoming municipal corporation elections.

With the GBA formation, BJP fears that its stronghold in Bengaluru might be shaken and the party is worried about losing its dominance in the city. The BJP, which wins 100+ wards in every election, is concerned about retaining its strongholds.

The BJP is concerned about the leadership in Bengaluru under the GBA. With the current setup, the party’s leadership structure might change and it’s uncertain who will lead the BJP in Bengaluru. The BJP has alleged that Congress is planning to carry delimitation of wards Assembly constituencies to its advantage, potentially disrupting the BJP’s stronghold in the city.

Already, there’s a power struggle within the BJP with some leaders questioning B Y Vijayendra’s leadership as state president. The party’s performance in recent bypolls has also raised concerns about its prospects in the GBA elections. The Congress government says it has formed the GBA to decentralise power and improve governance in Bengaluru. However, the opposition alleges that this move will fragment the city and hinder development.

The Congress government’s decision to rename Ramanagara as Bengaluru South has also sparked controversy, with the BJP and JD(S) accusing the government of trying to erase the city’s identity and indulge in real estate politics. Every time, R Ashoka and V Somanna used to lead from the front during BBMP elections. But now, questions are being raised about party leadership in the city.

After GBA’s formation, there is a fear that this leadership calculation will be reversed. The next few months will be crucial in determining the future of Bengaluru politics, with both Congress and BJP vying for dominance in the city.