Karnataka Chief Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi announced that Greater Bengaluru Authority civic elections will be held after May 25, 2026. Unlike the 2015 polls, ballot papers will be used instead of EVMs. The State Election Commission did not provide specific reasons, only stating law permits ballot papers. The draft electoral rolls for all 369 wards were published on January 19, showing a total electorate of 88.91 lakh voters. West City leads with 27.25 lakh voters, followed by North (19.54 lakh), South (17.44 lakh), Central (14.25 lakh), and East (10.41 lakh). In a developing controversy, Director General of Police K. Ramachandra Rao is under scrutiny after a video surfaced showing inappropriate behavior with a woman inside his office while in uniform. The video, dated eight years old, was recorded during his posting in Belagavi. Rao called it a conspiracy and briefed Home Minister G. Parameshwara on the matter. Meanwhile, Belagavi police registered a case against seven Hindutva leaders, including Maharashtra's Harshita Thakur, for making provocative gestures by pretending to shoot arrows at the Syed Ansari dargah during a procession on January 18. The act caused a stir with supporters cheering her actions. On the growth front, Karnataka's Department of Electronics, IT & BT released a ₹1.93 crore grant to Vertex Managed Workspace in Mangaluru under the Beyond Bengaluru mission. Minister Priyank Kharge called it "one of the first and largest grants" to boost workspace operators outside Bengaluru, marking a significant step in regional development.