Local body polls: Karnataka govt. finds itself in Catch-22 situation over electoral list

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has notified the reservation matrix for the ZPs and TPs, and is hoping that the SEC will notify the polls in January. 

Amid preparations for the elections to the zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats, expected to be held shortly, the State government is in a ‘Catch-22’ situation over the electoral rolls to be used in these elections. Though the State Election Commission (SEC) will decide on the rolls, the opinion of the State government will also matter in the decision, which would be political in nature and could potentially lead to a political slugfest.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has notified the reservation matrix for the ZPs and TPs, and is hoping that the SEC will notify the polls in January. The State government has to make a political decision on whether to go with the Election Commission of India’s rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) or not. The byelection in Hiriyur, necessitated by the death of former Minister D. Sudhakar, would be the first election in the State after the SIR exercise was completed.

The dilemma

While the ECI released the final electoral rolls in the State after the SIR was conducted and close to one crore voter names were deleted, the State government is unsure about using the post-SIR rolls. “The argument within the government is that the INDIA bloc is opposed to the SIR rolls and is seeking their cancellation. A Congress-ruled State opting for the post-SIR rolls in local body elections could be embarrassing. The Congress high command may also not like the idea,” a senior Minister said after the matter was discussed extensively in the State Cabinet on Thursday.

On the other hand, the Minister said the credibility of a Congress victory could suffer if the Opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) stepped up their campaign on the sanctity of the electoral rolls. “One crore names have been deleted from the old rolls. If the same rolls are used for the election, it could be embarrassing. The Opposition moving the court cannot be ruled out either.”

Discussion in Cabinet

Meanwhile, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre, during the post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, acknowledged that there was a detailed discussion on the SIR and that Ministers had given their opinions, but no decision was taken. “There is still confusion over whether the post-SIR rolls are to be considered or not. Though the State Election Commission will decide on it, it will seek our opinion. We will give our inputs then.” He also said that the State government had released funds to the SEC for the purchase of ballot boxes.

Published - November 05, 2026 10:18 pm IST