Karnataka government in tight spot after SC verdict on MP local body polls

BENGALURU: While there is pressure mounting on the state government from different quarters to conduct elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, several zilla and taluk panchayats, the government seems to be in no mood for the exercise.

However, the Supreme Court’s order in the case related to local body polls in Madhya Pradesh, is expected to pile more pressure on the BJP government in Karnataka.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for local body polls in Madhya Pradesh with OBC reservation, allowing the state government to notify the reservation pattern on the basis of the recommendations in a second report of a state backward classes commission.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court directed all states and Union Territories to ensure that if elections to local bodies are pending after the five-year term is over, such elections must be held without waiting for the delimitation and reservation exercise to be completed.

The Karnataka government has been looking to put off polls on the grounds of ward delimitation and reservation. How it will rework its strategy in the light of the latest Supreme Court order remains to be seen.