The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday walked out of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, protesting the government’s response to concerns over changes in the Panchayati Raj reservation roster and the rejection of its adjournment motion on the issue.
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur accused the state government of interfering with democratic norms by making last-minute alterations to the reservation roster ahead of the panchayat elections.
Addressing reporters in Shimla after the walkout, Thakur said the delay in issuing the roster and the release of a backdated notification late at night had raised serious questions about transparency. “The government deliberately delayed issuing the reservation roster and released a backdated notification late at night, which raises serious questions over the transparency of the entire process,” he said.
He also criticised a new provision that allows Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to modify the reservation roster by up to five per cent. Calling the move unjustified, Thakur said it could undermine the fairness of elections. “Panchayats are the basic units of democracy. Granting such discretionary powers is unjustified and can compromise the fairness of elections,” he added.
The issue was brought before the House through an adjournment motion moved by BJP MLA Randhir Sharma under Rule 67, demanding a detailed discussion. While a brief debate was later permitted under Rule 62, the opposition said it fell short of a comprehensive discussion.
According to Thakur, there were indications that the Chair recognised the gravity of the matter, but the House was adjourned before a full debate could take place. “This shows the government is trying to evade a detailed discussion on a critical issue,” he said.
He further questioned why such a provision had been introduced for panchayat elections when no similar mechanism exists for urban local bodies, alleging the move was aimed at favouring certain interests. “This appears to be an attempt to benefit certain support and interfere in the reservation process,” Thakur said.
Backing the concerns, Randhir Sharma described the provision as “unconstitutional” and alleged it violated the Panchayati Raj Act. Speaking after the walkout, he said, “There is no provision in the Constitution or the Panchayati Raj law that allows DCs to alter reservation by five per cent. The notification issued late on March 31 is completely unconstitutional.”
Sharma also claimed the State Election Commission had not been consulted and that no public objections were invited before issuing the notification. “This is a unilateral and authoritarian decision that undermines the autonomy of Panchayati Raj institutions,” he said.
He additionally raised concerns over discrepancies in entry tax rates, alleging a mismatch between what was announced in the Assembly and what was later notified. “There are reports of overcharging at several barriers, leading to tensions in border areas. The government has failed to issue clear guidelines, resulting in arbitrary collections,” Sharma said.
Terming both matters serious, the BJP demanded immediate corrective action and signalled that it would continue to press the issues in the coming days.
