Mangaluru: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has called on the Karnataka government to immediately conduct long-pending local body elections, warning that the delay is adversely impacting governance and development at the grassroots level.
Addressing a press conference on April 15, SDPI state president Abdul Majeed said that the state is facing financial strain due to the non-release of funds under the 15th Finance Commission. He stated that approximately ₹2,133 crore in grants meant for Karnataka are yet to be disbursed by the Centre.
Funds withheld due to poll delays
Majeed explained that the grants, which were scheduled to be released in four instalments, had not been received even by the end of March. This, he said, has placed gram panchayats under severe financial stress, especially those that have already undertaken development works.
According to him, the Commission has cited the non-conduct of taluk and zilla panchayat elections, along with delays in transferring funds to gram panchayats, as key reasons for withholding the grants. He termed this situation an “injustice to democracy” and stressed that grassroots governance cannot function effectively without elected local bodies.
Questions raised over MPs’ role
Majeed also questioned the role of the state’s 27 Members of Parliament, asking why they had failed to intervene and ensure the release of funds. He alleged that political considerations may be influencing the delay, pointing out that states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu have received their due share of funds.
He criticised the silence of elected representatives, including MPs, MLAs, and MLCs, stating that their inaction has contributed to the ongoing crisis faced by local bodies.
Call to adopt Kerala model
Highlighting the need for systematic governance, Majeed urged the Karnataka government to adopt the “Kerala model” of conducting local body elections every five years. He said this approach ensures decentralisation of power and strengthens democratic institutions at the grassroots.
He also pointed out that elections to the Greater Bengaluru civic body have not been held for the past six years, calling it another example of prolonged delays in local governance processes. He demanded immediate elections to all pending local bodies across the state.
Demand for immediate fund release
Majeed further urged the central government to release the pending grants without delay. He argued that even in the absence of taluk and district panchayat administrations, there is no justification for withholding funds meant for gram panchayats, which continue to function and deliver services.
He said timely financial support is crucial for sustaining development works and ensuring that rural areas do not suffer due to administrative lapses.
Denies funding allegations
Responding to allegations that Karnataka minister Zameer Ahmed Khan had funded SDPI during the Davanagere South by-election, Majeed categorically denied the claims.
He asserted that the party relies entirely on public contributions and crowdfunding. “Our workers and supporters fund our activities. People have given us both notes and votes. We do not accept such funding from external political figures,” he said.
Criticism of Congress over minority leadership
Referring to the political dynamics in the Davanagere South Assembly constituency, Majeed claimed that a large portion of voters belong to AHINDA communities, including a significant Muslim population. He alleged that local Congress workers had demanded a ticket for a Muslim candidate, but the denial led to dissatisfaction among voters.
He further accused the Indian National Congress of adopting a divisive approach towards Muslim leadership. According to him, disciplinary actions are disproportionately taken against minority leaders, while influential figures are often spared.
Majeed warned that such strategies could have serious political consequences and lead to erosion of support among minority communities.
Conclusion
The SDPI’s demand underscores growing concerns over delays in local body elections and their broader impact on governance and development. With substantial funds at stake and administrative gaps widening, the issue is likely to gain further political traction in Karnataka. Majeed reiterated that conducting timely elections and ensuring fund flow must be treated as an urgent priority by both the state and central governments.