Lok Sabha Question No. 2734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Election in Zila Panchayats
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Dr. C N Manjunath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2734

ANSWERED ON 16.12.2025

## ELECTION IN ZILA PANCHAYATS

## 2734. DR. C N MANJUNATH:

## Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that recent amendments to the 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 details thereof;

(b) whether it is a fact that elections of Taluk and Zilla Panchayats are due since 2021 and have been repeatedly postponed, affecting democratic decentralisation and rural 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 details thereof; and

(e) the steps proposed to ensure that elections to all Panchayat Raj Institutions are held within the constitutionally mandated time frame and conducting Gram Panchayat elections by early 2026?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN 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 constituencies and reservation of the constituencies, in this Article.

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

the notification with regard to the delimitation of the constituencies of Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats.

(b) and(c) The Government of Karnataka has informed that the elections to Taluk 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 development programmes.

Details of the grants released under the Fifteenth Finance Commission to the State of Karnataka for Rural Local Bodies as on 11.12.2025 are as under:

| Year                     |   Allocation (Rs. in crore) |   Released (Rs. in crore) |
|--------------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2020-21 (interim period) |                        3217 |                   3217    |
| 2021-22                  |                        2377 |                   2375.5  |
| 2022-23                  |                        2463 |                   2093.55 |
| 2023-24                  |                        2490 |                   2086.59 |
| 2024-25                  |                        2637 |                   2133.25 |
| Total                    |                       13184 |                  11905.9  |

As per the Ministry of Finance Operational Guidelines dated 14.07.2021 for implementation of the 15th Finance Commission grants for Rural Local Bodies, timely conduct of 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 pertaining to these tiers have been proportionately withheld.

(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 their own State Election Commission.

The UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Island, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep and Ladakh have a common State Election Commission.

The Ministry issues advisories to the States/UTs from time to time, where Panchayat elections are delayed, with the request to take all possible steps to hold the delayed Panchayat elections in conformity with the Constitutional provisions.

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