State government halts elections for vacant Gram Panchayats in Bengaluru urban district

The state government has issued a directive halting elections for vacant Gram Panchayats within the Bengaluru urban district. ACS Tushar Girinath wrote an official letter to the Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department, instructing the suspension of the election process. The department had been preparing for elections in these Gram Panchayat seats in Bengaluru urban district during December, and was ready to recommend the election dates to the State Election Commission (SEC). However, Tushar Girinath wrote the letter on September 30, 2026, clearly advising against starting the election process immediately.