Gram panchayat elections in Karnataka will be held before end of 2026, says Minister Priyank Kharge

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said the State government would conduct gram panchayat elections before the end of the current calendar year.

Speaking to presspersons in Kalaburagi on Saturday, Mr. Kharge said the deadline for filing objections regarding gram panchayat delimitation had ended, and the process for holding elections would be taken up shortly.

“After the gram panchayat elections, elections to taluk and zilla panchayats will also be conducted,” he said.

Replying to questions on drinking water scarcity in Kalaburagi district, the Minister said there was no shortage of funds for drinking water supply works. “The government has already provided ₹5 crore to each district for drinking water management. Additional funds will also be released wherever required. Apart from this, the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) has sanctioned ₹17.3 crore for drinking water-related works,” he said.

Mr. Kharge said task forces headed by MLAs had been constituted, and drinking water works were being taken up based on their recommendations.

He said he, along with MLAs M.Y. Patil and B.R. Patil, had already met Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar seeking the release of drinking water from the Bhima through Maharashtra to address summer water scarcity in the district.

When asked about the expansion of the State Cabinet, Mr. Kharge reiterated that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the party high command would take an appropriate decision at the right time.