People will teach a lesson if local body polls are delayed: Veerappa Moily

People will teach a lesson if local body polls are delayed: Veerappa Moily

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, May 11, 2026: Former Karnataka Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily on Sunday stressed that local body elections must be conducted on time, warning that any delay would go against democratic principles and could invite public backlash.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Parishat at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru on the occasion of Panchayat Raj Day, Moily said gram panchayats, taluk panchayats and zilla panchayats are as important as Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

The seminar focused on the reports of the 16th Finance Commission and the 5th State Finance Commission.

“Panchayats are also local governments and elections should be conducted regularly. If elections are not held, it would be an insult to democratic ideals. Elected administrations provide better opportunities for participation and development,” he said.

Moily noted that grants and funds would not be distributed if elections were not conducted. He described the Panchayat Raj system as the backbone of democracy and said gram sabhas form its strong foundation.

He further emphasised the need to strengthen gram sabhas and recalled that reservation in local bodies and decentralisation of power were implemented during his tenure as chief minister.

The senior Congress leader said political interests, both within and outside parties, often create hurdles in conducting local body elections.

Recalling his time in office, Moily said former Panchayat Raj Minister M.Y. Ghorpade had resigned due to obstacles in conducting panchayat elections. “In the Assembly elections held the following year, we ended up getting fewer seats,” he said.

Referring to political developments in Tamil Nadu, Moily warned ruling governments against ignoring public sentiment. “Otherwise, people themselves will teach a lesson,” he said.