Kalaburagi, Feb. 28: The Bidar and Gulbarga Deaneries organized their Pastoral Council Meetings and Leadership Training sessions on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with a focus on strengthening grassroots leadership and preparing for the forthcoming Grama Panchayat Elections 2026.
The meeting of the Bidar Deanery Pastoral Council recorded the participation of 85 members, while the Gulbarga Deanery Pastoral Council Meeting, held at the Mother Teresa Community Hall, Kalaburagi, was attended by 40 members. Parish representatives, council members, and lay leaders from various centres took part in the deliberations. The sessions deliberated extensively on key issues concerning the upcoming Grama Panchayat Elections 2026, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the defined roles and responsibilities of the Parish Pastoral Councils in promoting responsible civic participation.
During the proceedings, participants were divided into groups to chalk out practical strategies at the parish and village levels. As part of the preparatory measures, approximately 50 probable candidates were shortlisted for consideration in the upcoming elections. Among the significant resolutions adopted were the need to ensure that all members of the Catholic community verify and secure inclusion of their names in the voter list under the SIR process. A District-Level Committee was constituted to coordinate, guide, and monitor election-related initiatives.
It was further resolved that all Parish and Mission Centre Pastoral Council meetings be convened on or before March 10, 2026, to review action plans and mobilize participation. Village-level meetings will also be organized in consultation with local leaders to discuss strategies and constitute local committees. The meetings concluded with a renewed commitment to unity, responsible leadership, and active civic engagement in view of the forthcoming local body elections.
