In Shimla, the political scene in Himachal Pradesh has heated up over the delay of panchayat elections. Local BJP leaders say the Congress‑led state government is tamping down the democratic process and trying to postpone the polls.
At a press conference on Friday, Randhir Sharma — a BJP MLA and chief spokesperson for the party in the state — slammed the government. He accused the administration of breaking democratic norms by pushing back the panchayat and urban local body elections.
“The orders we have from the Chief Minister and the Panchayati Raj Minister are confusing,” Sharma told journalists. “They say elections will be held on time, but letters issued to Deputy Commissioners in four districts point to a different plan.” He said the documents came after government pressure and clearly reveal a plan to defer the polls.
Sharma said the state government is “creating confusion and covering up its own failures.” The decision to postpone the elections comes just after a similar delay of the urban local body polls earlier in the year.
The State Election Commission had already been training polling officials and preparing constituencies for the upcoming panchayat elections. According to Sharma, the government’s excuse of a natural disaster is “laughable.” He pointed out that in Hamirpur district, official records show only one road damaged by a recent weather event.
He added that the government forced Deputy Commissioners to draft these letters and that, by doing so, it indirectly admits it is unable to handle its own administrative duties. “It’s surprising that these roads, reported as damaged, will still be unrepaired by January 2025,” he said.
In a sharper jab, Sharma criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “holding the Constitution in his hand, claiming to defend democratic rights,” while in Himachal, the state government is “systematically dismantling the democratic structure.”
The BJP expects the Congress to withdraw the misleading orders and revive the election schedule. Sharma called on the Chief Minister to focus on party matters and assure voters that the BJP is united and ready to run in the elections.
The controversy comes as Himachal Pradesh’s busy political calendar approaches, with the panchayat elections set to test both parties’ support at the grassroots level. How the state government resolves the delay allegations will shape the upcoming electoral race.
Source: aninews
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