**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 2734 regarding elections in Zila Panchayats, answered on December 16, 2025. The question addresses concerns about the autonomy of the State Election Commission in Karnataka, delays in Panchayat elections, disruption to rural development, and proposed steps to ensure timely elections. The response clarifies the Karnataka government's position and actions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **State Election Commission and Delimitation:**
* The Karnataka government clarifies that Article 243-K of the Constitution empowers the State Election Commission for the preparation of electoral rolls but does not mention delimitation or reservation of constituencies.
* Recent amendments to ‘The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993' have not diluted the constitutional powers and functional autonomy of the State Election Commission.
* The State Government has incorporated new sections 308-E to 308-M to the Karnataka Grama Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 for the constitution of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Delimitation Commission for examining the existing Delimitation of the constituencies, Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats and to submit a report to the Government for issuing the notification with regard to the delimitation of the constituencies of Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats.
* **Delay in Panchayat Elections:**
* Elections to Taluk and Zilla Panchayats in Karnataka have been postponed since 2020-21 due to unavoidable circumstances such as COVID-19 and legislative/parliamentary elections.
* The State Government has appointed Administrators to the Taluk Panchayats and Zilla panchayats to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the elected body.
* **Funds for Rural Local Bodies:**
* Details of grants released under the Fifteenth Finance Commission to the State of Karnataka for Rural Local Bodies until 11.12.2025 are provided.
* Funds pertaining to Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats have been withheld due to the non-conduct of elections since 2020-21.
* **Panchayat Raj and Election Commission:**
* "Panchayat” is a State subject and part of State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
* The superintendence, direction, and control of all elections to the Panchayats are vested in a State Election Commission as per Article 243K of the Constitution.
* Many States and UTs have their own State Election Commissions or a common Election Commission.
* **Ministry's Role:**
* The Ministry issues advisories to States/UTs where Panchayat elections are delayed, requesting them to take steps to hold the delayed elections in conformity with the Constitutional provisions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Karnataka State Government**
* **Impact:** Is required to manage the administration of Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats through appointed administrators in the absence of elected bodies.
* **Action Required:** To take steps to hold the delayed Panchayat elections in conformity with the Constitutional provisions.
**State Election Commission**
* **Impact:** Has a mandate for the preparation of electoral rolls but not for delimitation or reservation of constituencies, according to the government's interpretation.
* **Action Required:** Continue to work within the constitutional framework and cooperate with the State Government to facilitate Panchayat elections.
**Rural Population and Local Governance**
* **Impact:** Currently affected by the delay in elections and governance through appointed administrators instead of elected representatives.
* **Action Required:** Awaiting the conduct of Panchayat elections to restore democratic decentralization and ensure effective implementation of development programs.
**Ministry of Panchayati Raj**
* **Impact:** Needs to ensure that States/UTs conduct timely Panchayat elections to ensure the release of funds for Rural Local Bodies.
* **Action Required:** Continue to issue advisories and monitor the progress of Panchayat elections in various States/UTs.
Key Entities Referenced
Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993: A state law amended concerning the powers of the State Election Commission and delimitation processes in Karnataka Panchayats.
Karnataka Panchayat Raj Delimitation Commission: A commission constituted by the State Government to examine the delimitation of constituencies, Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats and to submit report to the Government for issuing
Article 243-K of the Constitution of India: Constitutional provision empowering the State Election Commission regarding elections, but which does not mention delimitation of constituencies and reservation.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The central ministry answering questions in the parliament regarding elections in Zila Panchayats.
Karnataka: The state where Panchayat Raj Act amendments are being discussed and where Panchayat elections have been delayed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2734
ANSWEREDON 16.12.2025
ELECTIONIN ZILAPANCHAYATS
2734. DR. C N MANJUNATH:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a)whether the Government isaware that recentamendments tothe Karnataka Panchayat Raj
Act, 1993 have diluted the powers and functional autonomy of the State Election
Commission, particularly regarding delimitation and reservation of constituencies, if so, the
detailsthereof;
(b) whether it is a fact that elections of Taluk and Zilla Panchayats are due since 2021 and
have beenrepeatedlypostponed, affectingdemocratic decentralisationandrural development,
if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether these delays have disrupted rural developmental activities and impacted the
release of funds by the Government meant for Panchayat-level schemes, if so, the details
thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to recommend or facilitate restoration of the State
Election Commission’s constitutional mandate over delimitation and reservation, if so, the
detailsthereof; and
(e)the steps proposed to ensure thatelections toallPanchayat Raj Institutions are heldwithin
the constitutionally mandated time frame and conducting Gram Panchayat elections by early
2026?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRIRAJIVRANJAN SINGH)
(a) The Government of Karnataka has informed that Article 243-K of the Constitution of
India has empowered the State Election Commission for the superintendence, direction and
control the preparation of electoral rolls. But there is no mention of delimitation of the
constituenciesandreservation of the constituencies, inthisArticle.
Recent amendments to ‘The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993’ have not
diluted the constitutional powers and functional autonomy of the State Election Commission.
But the State Government has incorporated new sections 308-E to 308-M to the Karnataka
Grama Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 for the constitution of the Karnataka Panchayat
Raj Delimitation Commission for examining the existing Delimitation of the constituencies,
Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats and to submit report to the Government for issuing
1the notification with regard to the delimitation of the constituencies of Taluk Panchayats and
Zilla Panchayats.
(b)and(c)The Government of Karnataka hasinformed thatthe elections toTaluk Panchayats
and Zilla panchayats have not been held since 2020-21 for some unavoidable circumstances
like covid, legislative elections, parliamentary elections. The State Government however has
appointed the Administrator to the Taluk Panchayats and Zilla panchayats as per section-239
of ‘The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993’. The Administrators are
empowered to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the Elected body of the Taluk
Panchayats and Zilla panchayats As such, there is no hurdle for the implementation of the
developmentprogrammes.
Details of the grants released under the Fifteenth Finance Commission to the State of
Karnataka for Rural Local Bodiesason11.12.2025are asunder:
Year Allocation(Rs. incrore) Released (Rs. incrore)
2020-21 (interim period) 3217.00 3217.00
2021-22 2377.00 2375.50
2022-23 2463.00 2093.55
2023-24 2490.00 2086.59
2024-25 2637.00 2133.25
Total 13184.00 11905.89
As per the Ministry of Finance Operational Guidelines dated 14.07.2021 for implementation
of the 15thFinanceCommission grantsfor Rural LocalBodies, timelyconductof elections to
the Panchayati Raj Institutions is one of the stipulated criteria for release of funds to the
different tiers of Panchayats. However, owing to non-conduct of elections since 2020-21 by
the State Government of Karnataka for Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats, the funds
pertainingtothese tiers have beenproportionatelywithheld.
(d) & (e)“Panchayat”, being “Local Government”, is a State subject and part of State List of
Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.Panchayats are set up and operate through the
respective State Panchayati Raj Acts which may vary from State to State, subject to the
provisions of the Constitution.As per Article 243K of the Constitution, superintendence,
direction and control of all elections to the Panchayats is vested in a State Election
Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the
Governor.The States of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Sikkim,
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Puducherry
have theirown State ElectionCommission.
The UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Island, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and
Diu, LakshadweepandLadakhhave a commonStateElectionCommission.
The Ministry issues advisories to the States/UTs from time to time, where Panchayat
electionsare delayed,with the request totake all possible steps toholdthe delayed Panchayat
electionsinconformity with the Constitutional provisions.
***
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