GBA polls: Kumaraswamy alleges CM-Deputy CM power tussle in Karnataka
Synopsis
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that Karnataka's CM and Deputy CM are fighting each other over the GBA polls — one pushing for elections to secure his chair, the other blocking them to eventually claim it. As the SEC runs to the Supreme Court for a 90-day delay, the civic poll standoff is exposing a Congress leadership fault line in Bengaluru.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy alleged open conflict between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K.
Shivakumar over Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections.
Kumaraswamy claimed Siddaramaiah convened election meetings without Shivakumar, who then allegedly pressured the CM to halt the process.
The Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC) approached the Supreme Court on Monday seeking a 90-day extension for the civic polls.
The SEC's plea came days after State Election Commissioner G.S.
Sangreshi had announced elections between 14 June and 24 June .
State Home Minister G.
Parameshwara denied deliberate delay, citing procedural issues and the ongoing census exercise.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday alleged a sharp internal conflict between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over the conduct of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections. Kumaraswamy made the allegations while speaking to the media in Bengaluru, claiming the two senior Congress leaders were pulling in opposite directions on whether to hold or delay the long-pending civic polls.
Kumaraswamy's Key Allegations
According to Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had convened a meeting of election officials in the absence of Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar and pushed for conducting the polls at the earliest. He alleged that Shivakumar subsequently convened a separate meeting and pressured Siddaramaiah against holding the elections under any circumstances.
"One side wants elections to save the Chief Minister's chair, while the other wants postponement to eventually capture the Chief Minister's post. There is clear conflict between the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister over the elections," Kumaraswamy alleged.
He further claimed that the state government was citing the ongoing census exercise as a reason to delay the elections until September.
The Political Stakes Behind the Dispute
Kumaraswamy contended that Siddaramaiah wanted the GBA polls conducted to consolidate his political position over the next six months, while Shivakumar — who has long been seen as a chief ministerial aspirant — feared that an election held under Siddaramaiah's watch could strengthen the incumbent and weaken his own prospects. This comes amid persistent speculation about a leadership transition within the Karnataka Congress government, a subject that has simmered since the party's state assembly victory in 2023.
What the Karnataka Government Said
State Home Minister G. Parameshwara pushed back on the narrative of deliberate delay, stating that the government was keen on holding the elections at the earliest but that procedural issues needed to be addressed first. "We also want the elections to be held early. However, if there are mistakes in the process, they must be rectified. Since the census work is underway, adequate workforce arrangements are also required. Conducting elections is our responsibility, and it will be done," he said.
Supreme Court Petition and Election Commission's Earlier Stand
The Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking a 90-day extension to conduct the long-delayed Bengaluru civic polls. The move came just days after State Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi had publicly asserted that elections for the five corporations under the GBA would be held between 14 June and 24 June. The reversal in position has drawn scrutiny from opposition leaders including Kumaraswamy, who alleged it reflects political interference rather than administrative necessity.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court's response to the SEC's extension plea is expected to be a decisive factor in determining the election timeline. With the GBA civic polls already significantly delayed, the outcome will be closely watched by both ruling and opposition parties, as well as Bengaluru's residents who have been without elected civic representation for an extended period.
Point of View
However politically motivated, point to a structural tension that has defined the Karnataka Congress government since 2023: two powerful leaders sharing power but not trust. The GBA elections have become a proxy battlefield for the CM succession question, and the SEC's sudden pivot to seeking a 90-day Supreme Court extension — days after publicly committing to a June timeline — raises legitimate questions about administrative independence. If the court grants the delay, it will hand Shivakumar time; if it refuses, Siddaramaiah gets a window. Either way, Bengaluru's voters remain spectators in a contest that is less about civic governance and more about who controls the Congress narrative heading into the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GBA elections dispute in Karnataka about?
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections have been significantly delayed, with the Karnataka State Election Commission seeking a 90-day extension from the Supreme Court. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that an internal power struggle between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar is the real reason behind the delay.
What did H.D. Kumaraswamy allege about CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar?
Kumaraswamy alleged that Siddaramaiah wants the GBA polls held to strengthen his political position, while Shivakumar is blocking them fearing it could hurt his own prospects of becoming Chief Minister. He claimed both leaders held separate meetings with election officials to push their respective positions.
Why has the Karnataka SEC approached the Supreme Court?
The Karnataka State Election Commission approached the Supreme Court on Monday seeking a 90-day extension to conduct the long-delayed Bengaluru civic polls, citing reasons including the ongoing census exercise and procedural issues that need to be resolved.
When were the GBA elections originally scheduled?
State Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi had asserted just days before the Supreme Court petition that elections for the five corporations under the GBA would be held between 14 June and 24 June 2025.
What is the Karnataka government's official position on the GBA elections?
State Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated that the government is keen to hold the elections at the earliest but that procedural corrections and workforce arrangements related to the ongoing census must be addressed first.
