Former High Court Judge Demands Immediate Elections for Local Bodies in Karnataka

Retired High Court Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das has urged the Karnataka government to conduct immediate elections for local bodies to strengthen democratic decentralization. Speaking at a seminar on decentralized planning, he warned that failing to hold timely elections could foster authoritarianism and fascism. He emphasized that power must be decentralized as per the Constitution to counter the growing influence of money, caste, and muscle power in politics. Additionally, Justice Das criticized the closure of meat shops during high-profile visits, labeling such restrictions on food choices as a form of fascism. Former IAS officer S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram also supported the call for mandatory local body elections.