India

Karnataka Faces Dilemma Over Post‑Revision Electoral Rolls for Local Body Elections

By The Hindu Bureau

The Karnataka state government is grappling with a dilemma over which electoral rolls to use for the upcoming zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections. While the State Election Commission (SEC) will ultimately decide, the government’s opinion will also be sought, making the issue politically charged. The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has released the reservation matrix for the elections and expects the SEC to issue the final rolls in January. The government must decide whether to adopt the Election Commission of India’s rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which removed nearly one crore voter names. The first election after the SIR will be a by‑poll in Hiriyur, triggered by the death of former Minister D. Sudhakar. A senior minister noted that the INDIA bloc opposes the post‑SIR rolls and seeks their cancellation, and that a Congress‑ruled state using them could be embarrassing. The minister also warned that the opposition could challenge the rolls in court. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre said that while the cabinet discussed the issue in detail, no decision has been made. He added that the SEC will consult the government and that the state has already released funds for ballot boxes. The matter remains unresolved as the government weighs its options.