Cabinet approves ₹151.31 crore for ballot boxes for panchayat raj elections

The Cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru on Friday gave administrative approval for an expenditure of ₹151.31 crore to purchase ballot boxes and for live webcasting during the panchayat raj elections, which are long overdue.

Briefing media persons after the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the government intends to hold panchayat raj elections to zilla, taluk and gram panchayats in December this year.

Earlier, the State Cabinet decided to bring an amendment through the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to reintroduce ballot papers in local body elections. The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, was notified in April 2026 after receiving the Governor’s assent.