Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru: With the official term of several gram panchayats in Dakshina Kannada concluding between January and March 2026, the state government has initiated the process of appointing administrative officers to oversee local governance until new elections are held.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department has instructed District Collectors to prepare for the upcoming general elections for the 2026-2031 term. As the current five-year administrative cycle (2020-2025) ends, these appointed officials will manage the day-to-day functions and development projects of the panchayats to ensure no disruption in public services.

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Upcoming Electoral Reforms and Recruitment The transition comes amidst significant policy changes in Karnataka’s local governance. The State Cabinet recently approved an amendment to the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act to reintroduce paper ballots, replacing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the upcoming polls to enhance transparency.

Furthermore, to strengthen rural administration, the government has announced a recruitment drive to fill nearly 1,000 Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) vacancies and over 500 Village Administrative Officer (VAO) positions across the state.