BENGALURU, Feb. 24 -- Siddaramaiah said the Karnataka government has begun preparations to hold long-delayed elections to zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats, signalling that the polls could be completed by the end of June and restoring elected leadership at crucial levels of local governance.

Speaking to reporters in Karwar during a visit to Uttara Kannada district, Siddaramaiah said the administrative groundwork was already in progress. "Various processes are being carried out to conduct local body elections, and wards need to be divided," he said, referring to constituency restructuring required before voting can take place.

The elections have been pending for nearly two to three years, primarily because of disputes over reservatio...