Karnataka Cabinet Approves Rs 151 Crore for Ballot Boxes and Live Webcasting of Panchayat Elections

The state cabinet met and cleared a fund of Rs 151 crore to purchase ballot boxes required for the forthcoming panchayat elections. The allocation also covers the installation of live‑streaming infrastructure to webcast the voting process, a step aimed at enhancing transparency and public confidence. Officials said the money will be released to the State Election Commission, which will oversee procurement and technical deployment. The move reflects Karnataka's push to modernise grassroots democracy ahead of the scheduled local body polls. Details on the timeline for procurement and rollout are expected to be communicated by the election authority in the coming weeks.

The decision underscores the government's commitment to leveraging technology in electoral management, especially in rural constituencies where traditional monitoring has faced challenges. By broadcasting the polling in real time, authorities hope to deter irregularities and provide citizens with direct access to the voting proceedings.

Stakeholders, including political parties and civil‑society groups, have welcomed the initiative, noting that it could set a precedent for other states to adopt similar measures for local elections.