Karnataka State Election Commission begins preparations for gram panchayat polls
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC), in coordination with the state government, has begun preparations for the upcoming gram panchayat (GP) elections, as the five-year terms of over 5,700 gram panchayats are set to expire between December 2025 and January 2026.
Arundati Chandrashekar, Commissioner of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Commissionerate, has directed the CEOs of all 31 zilla panchayats to submit detailed lists of gram panchayats whose terms are concluding. The deadline for submitting this data to the panchayat raj commissionerate is October 24, according to a letter cited by The Times of India on Tuesday.
The directive follows a communication from the SEC requesting information on gram panchayats with expiring terms, including member details, reservation specifics for women and various categories, and other relevant electoral data. Zilla panchayats have been given 15 days to compile and forward this information to assist the SEC in updating electoral rolls and scheduling the polls.
G.S. Sangreshi, SEC commissioner, said that the SEC had written to the government regarding the conduct of GP elections and was awaiting a response. "We expect a reply to initiate further proceedings. We will plan based on the govt's reply," TOI quoted Sangreshi as saying.
Meanwhile, some Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) elected from local bodies had proposed allowing candidates to contest GP elections using party symbols. However, the proposal was rejected by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in September, who described it as a “bad idea” that could encourage political groupism and disrupt village-level harmony.
Officials quoted in the report confirmed that candidates will continue to contest using their own unique symbols on the ballot paper, and the use of symbols affiliated with any recognised political party will be prohibited in the gram panchayat polls.
The last GP elections in Karnataka were held in December 2020 in two phases, covering nearly 93,000 wards across more than 5,700 gram panchayats.
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Elderly Dalit woman cremated on road after family denied access to village cremation ground in Bihar
Vaishali: An elderly Dalit woman was cremated on a public road in Bihar’s Vaishali district after her family was allegedly prevented from using the village cremation ground, triggering outrage and tension in the area, The Observer Post reported.
The incident occurred on Thursday at Sontho Andhari village under the Goraul police station limits. The deceased, identified as Jhapki Devi (95), belonged to a Mahadalit family. According to locals and police, when her family tried to take her body to the cremation ground, some people blocked the route, leaving the family with no option but to perform the last rites on the road.
Family members and residents said the obstruction has been a long-standing issue. “Every time we take a body for cremation, the way is blocked. This has happened earlier too, but no permanent solution was given,” said a local resident from Manjhi Tola, expressing anger over repeated denial of access.
As tensions rose, the funeral procession stopped at Andhari Gachi Chowk, where the body was placed on a pyre in front of a Shiva temple and cremated on the road. Villagers alleged that the pathway connecting the main road to the cremation ground had been encroached upon by local landowners.
Police and administrative officials later reached the spot. A fire brigade vehicle was deployed to extinguish the pyre, and the road was cleaned after the cremation. Public representatives who arrived at the scene were reportedly chased away by protesting villagers, who accused the administration of ignoring their complaints for years.
Vaishali Superintendent of Police Vikram Sihag said the issue arose due to the absence of a clear path. “Earlier, there was a route to the cremation ground, but some people built a temple on that path. Due to the lack of access, the family carried out the cremation on the road,” he said. He added that discussions were held with local officials and that arrangements would be made to restore access to the cremation ground. “The situation is currently under control,” the SP said.
Block Development Officer Pankaj Kumar Nigam and Circle Officer Divya Chanchal said the area had been cleared and an inquiry was under way. “All aspects will be examined, and steps will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” they said.
