Sun Mar 16 15:14:21 UTC 2025: ## Mysuru Activists Demand Immediate City Corporation Elections

**Mysuru, March 16, 2025** – A delegation of activists from the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Election Struggle Committee met with Karnataka Minister H.C. Mahadevappa on Sunday, urging him to expedite the long-delayed MCC elections. The group, led by retired University of Mysore professor Nanjaraj Urs, highlighted the significant hardships faced by citizens due to the absence of an elected council for over a year and four months.

According to Aravind Sharma, convenor of the committee, residents are struggling with inadequate drinking water, faulty underground drainage systems, poorly maintained roads, and inefficient garbage disposal. He claimed that MCC officials are not adequately addressing these civic issues in the absence of elected representatives.

The memorandum submitted to the Minister emphasized that the delay in elections violates the constitutional right of citizens to participate in local governance. The activists argued that the proposed creation of a Greater Mysore City Corporation (GMCC) should not be used as a pretext to further postpone the MCC elections, noting that the GMCC’s formation is expected to take at least three more years.

While Minister Mahadevappa reportedly responded positively to the concerns, he stated that the GMCC proposal is still under discussion, and a decision will only be made after consultations with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He assured the activists that the matter would not be rushed.

The memorandum also criticized the government for delaying local body elections despite the timely completion of state assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The committee suggested that the postponement, under the guise of finalizing reservations, indicated a lack of willingness to transfer power to local representatives, further alleging tacit understanding between ruling and opposition parties on the issue. The delegation included representatives from various organizations, including the Karnataka Kannada Vedike and the SDPI.

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