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Congress unveils ‘Bhu Guarantee’ in Karnataka
On May 13, 2026, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced the sixth Congress guarantee for Bengaluru, the Bhu Guarantee, detailing measures to ease land-related costs and accelerate development projects. The announcements include reduced B khata to A khata conversion costs, cheaper regularisation for BDA land before 2008, setback relaxations, site distribution for Shivaram Karanth Layout, and a mass sapling drive, with further announcements promised within 15 days amid ongoing civic-poll uncertainties.
Why It Matters
The package targets long-standing land and development issues in Bengaluru and positions the state government in the context of pending civic elections and governance projects.
Timeline
4 Events
SEC appeals to SC for extension of Bengaluru poll deadline
May 13, 2026
The Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC) filed an application before the Supreme Court seeking a three-month extension to the deadline for Bengaluru civic polls.
May 13, 2026: Congress unveils Bhu Guarantee in Karnataka
May 13, 2026
Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar unveiled the sixth guarantee — Bhu Guarantee — and announced measures including: reducing the B khata to A khata conversion cost from 5% to 2% for a 100-day window beginning May 16; allowing a one-time 100-day window to apply (cost to rise to 5% after the window); a 50% reduction in regularisation cost for BDA land built before 2008 (e.g., 5% down to 2.5%), with about 1 lakh such properties in Bengaluru; new setback relaxations up to 15%; distribution of 18,000 sites to 3,500 land losers for the Shivaram Karanth Layout; ongoing and planned projects including Phase 1 Bengaluru Business Corridor (80% land acquisition complete), contracting out a short tunnel between Hebbal and the University of Agricultural Sciences, and the opening of the Major Arterial Road; a mass sapling plantation drive across Bengaluru on June 27 (15 lakh saplings); and a promise of further announcements within 15 days.
SC deadline for Bengaluru civic polls set
January 2026
The Supreme Court, in January 2026, set a June 30 deadline for civic polls in Bengaluru.
BBMP council term expired; no elections since September 2020
September 2020
The term of the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council expired in September 2020. There has been no election since.