Bengaluru Civic Polls: BBMP To Use Ballot Papers, Karnataka SEC Clears Proposal After Siddaramaiah Cabinet Push

Bengaluru Civic Polls: The Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday informed that the Bengaluru Municipal Elections will witness the use of ballot paper instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

“There may be many reasons. Once the state election takes a stand by consulting all the stakeholders in the matter. We have taken a decision," State Election Commissioner GS Sangreshi said.

The big decision came after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state cabinet had requested SEC for ballot paper use in the civic body polls alleging manipulation of EVMs by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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When Are The Bengaluru Municipal Elections

The Supreme Court on January 12 asked the Karnataka government and the state election body to hold the long-pending polls for Bengaluru local body by June 30.

The tenure of the earlier elected body for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) expired on September 10, 2020, and since then a government-appointed administrator was taking care of its day-to-day affairs.

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A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice JK Maheshwari, which fixed the schedule for the poll process, said that the final ward-wise reservation list shall be published by the state government by February 20, and made it clear that no further extension shall be granted.