R Ashoka (Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka) has publicly accused the Congress government of intentionally delaying municipal elections in Bengaluru due to fears of electoral defeat. During a news conference, Ashoka described the postponement as a betrayal of the citizens, asserting that if elections had been conducted for the previous 198 wards, they would have been completed by now. He claimed that Congress's internal surveys indicated a strong likelihood of defeat, prompting the government to divide Bengaluru into five parts and delay the elections. Furthermore, Ashoka alleged that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who oversees Bengaluru, is stalling the polls until he can ascend to the chief minister's position. He criticized the Congress party for its internal conflicts, which he argued have led to significant issues in the city, such as garbage piling up on the streets and a halt to development work. In contrast, Ashoka stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fully prepared for the elections, ready to capitalize on the Congress party's missteps.