Panchayat polls in Karnataka likely in October-November, says Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre on Saturday (July 11) said that the gram, taluk and zilla panchayat polls in the State are
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre on Saturday (July 11) said that the gram, taluk and zilla panchayat polls in the State are likely to be held in October or November. Delimitation process As soon as the delimitation process and the fixing of the reservation matrix are completed, the proposal will be submitted to the State Election Commission, which will conduct the elections, he said. “Delimitation of all the constituencies and finalisation of reservation for taluk and zilla panchayats are under way. It has been discussed in the Cabinet, and the Chief Minister and all the Ministers are keen to hold gram, taluk and zilla panchayat polls,” Mr. Khandre said.
Stating that Karnataka has 5,927 gram panchayats, he said the term of office has ended in more than 90% of them, with administrators currently in charge. He said the government was completing constituency reorganisation and reservation procedures in panchayats affected by administrative changes. The Panchayat Raj system embodied Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj, under which villages govern their own affairs. He recalled that Karnataka pioneered decentralisation under the late Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao’s government, with Minister Abdul Nazir Sab playing a key role in introducing reforms in 1980. At the national level, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi initiated efforts to institutionalise the Panchayat Raj system across the country through the proposed 64th Constitutional Amendment in 1989.
Delayed due to SIR On the delay in elections to urban local bodies, the Minister said the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls had engaged government staff across the State, prompting the government to seek additional time. The Minister accused the Centre of withholding ₹2,186.2 crore that was due to Karnataka’s gram panchayats under the 15th Finance Commission recommendations, citing technical issues with the software platform. “Technical glitches should not become a reason to deny funds meant for local bodies. Karnataka’s MPs should collectively raise this issue,” he said. Do not migrate for work Khandre said the State government had introduced the VB-G RAM G scheme, which replaced MGNREGA, despite financial constraints to provide employment opportunities to the rural poor, Dalits and other vulnerable sections.
“No one should be forced to migrate in search of livelihood,” he said. Khandre said the government was also planning to simplify the e-Swathu property records system after the SIR exercise, following numerous complaints from rural property owners. “Our aim is to deliver e-Swathu documents at the doorstep of every eligible property owner in rural areas without procedural hurdles,” he said. However, he clarified that e-Swathu documents would not be issued for layouts developed on ‘B kharab’ land, stating that he would hold consultations with the Revenue Department in this regard.
The BriefWire