Local Body Elections – New Disclosure Rules Introduced

The Karnataka State Election Commission has issued a significant order dated 22 April 2026, introducing additional disclosure requirements for candidates contesting in local body elections across the State, including the Greater Bengaluru region.

As per the notification, all candidates filing nomination papers must now submit enhanced affidavits and declarations, bringing greater transparency into the electoral process.

The key update is the inclusion of mandatory disclosure on disqualification status. Candidates are required to clearly state whether they have ever been disqualified under any of the following laws:

• Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, 1993

• Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964

• Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976

• Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024

• Karnataka Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) Act, 1987 

In addition, the revised affidavit format requires candidates to provide detailed information including:

• Criminal cases, convictions, or pending charges

• Income tax details and PAN information

• Movable and immovable assets of self, spouse, and dependents

• Outstanding loans and government dues

• Educational qualifications and profession

• Social media accounts and contact details 

For Bengaluru, this assumes importance in light of the evolving governance structure under the Greater Bengaluru framework, where multiple city corporations and local bodies will see electoral activity. The move is aimed at ensuring that voters have complete and verified background information before exercising their franchise.

From a citizen perspective, this development strengthens accountability and informed voting, while for candidates, it raises the compliance threshold with stricter documentation and disclosures.

NammaWard will continue to track how these requirements are implemented across Bengaluru’s city corporations and how effectively this improves transparency in local governance.