Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

1. Bengaluru civic polls: GBA releases revised draft voters list, objections open till March 16

After several complaints were received from the public and political parties about voters’ names not appearing in the wards where they reside, the revised draft voters’ list for 369 wards across five corporations under the Greater Bangalore Authority was published on March 9, 2026. According to the revised draft list, there are 8,024 polling stations, and a total of 88,92,528 voters. Previously, there were 88,91,411 voters, as per the GBA.

The citizens can raise claims or objections by March 16. Corrections identified during this period will be incorporated between March 17 and March 18, followed by quality checks from March 20 to March 22. The final voter list will then be generated between March 23 and March 27 and printed between March 28 and April 4, with the final electoral roll scheduled to be published on April 6, M. Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner, GBA, said during a press conference. 

2. Karnataka government rules out closure of KSIC factory, construction of stadium

The State government on March 9, 2026, informed the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) Filature Factory at T. Narasipura in the Mysuru district, popularly known as the Mysore Silk Factory, will not be closed and the plan to construct a stadium on its premises has been shelved.

Minister for Sericulture and Animal Husbandry K. Venkatesh informed that plans are being made to boost production to meet the rising demand for the premium silk brand, Mysore Silk. The 114-year-old factory earned a net profit of ₹101.15 crore in 2024–25. It produced 3,10,667 saris during the last three years (2022–23 to 2024–25) and sold 3,09,659 saris, recording more than 99% sales.

3. Bengaluru North division police recover 107 stolen mobile phones worth ₹21.4 lakh

In a special operation, the North Division police recovered 107 stolen and lost mobile phones worth around ₹21.4 lakh using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal and returned them to their rightful owners on March 9, 2026. Police officers and staff traced the missing phones using the CEIR system, which helps block and track mobile devices based on their IMEI numbers.

According to police, the phones were recovered between February 2026 and March 9, 2026. Police urged the public to register details of lost or stolen mobile phones on the CEIR portal or file a complaint at the nearest police station, as it significantly improves the chances of tracing and recovering the devices through the IMEI numbers.

4. Chaos erupts as actor Jr. NTR mobbed by fans during Bengaluru visit, police lathi-charge crowd

Police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse a large crowd of fans who had gathered to see Telugu film star Jr. NTR during his visit to a hospital in Bengaluru on March 8, 2026. The actor was in the city to attend the inauguration of KIMS Super Speciality Hospital at Mahadevapura. As news of his arrival spread, thousands of fans rushed to the venue to catch a glimpse of the actor.

According to the police, many fans forced their way inside the hospital premises, leading to chaos and a stampede-like situation. During the commotion, an escalator inside the building was reportedly damaged. As the situation spiralled out of control, officers carried out a mild lathi-charge to disperse the fans and restore order. No serious injuries were reported in the incident.