Panchayat Polls in Himachal: The political temperature is rising in Himachal Pradesh over the upcoming Panchayat elections. While the Sukhu government insists the polls will be held on time, the opposition BJP has accused the ruling Congress of trying to delay them, fearing a defeat.
Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has been aggressively targeting the government. Following recent orders for the reorganization of Panchayats, Thakur challenged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, asking, “All ministers and the CM say the Panchayat elections will be held on time. Today, a letter has been issued for the reorganization of Panchayats. Will the polls happen on schedule, or is the government lying about these elections, as it often does?”
Thakur pointed out that the State Election Commission had written about the reorganization a year ago, and this delay raises questions about the government’s intent. He also highlighted that the reservation roster, which should have been released 90 days prior as per the High Court’s order, is still not out.
Signals of an Imminent Election
Despite the political skirmish, official moves suggest the wheels are in motion. The State Election Commission has notified all Deputy Commissioners to prepare for the polls, expected in December 2025 or January 2026.
The directives include preparing lists of polling staff and identifying buildings for vote counting. This indicates concrete preparations are underway for the elections to be held this winter.
The Reorganization Controversy
The backdrop of this clash is a stalled proposal. In January 2025, the Panchayati Raj department invited applications for creating new Panchayats, receiving over 600 proposals. However, by July 2025, the state cabinet rejected these proposals.
The government argued that the reorganization process, which involves resolving claims and objections, would be time-consuming and could delay the elections. Therefore, the polls will be conducted based on the existing Panchayat structure.
The opposition BJP has labeled this move a conspiracy to postpone the elections, alleging the Congress is apprehensive about its performance. The Congress government, however, has dismissed these allegations, standing by its decision and reaffirming its commitment to holding the polls on schedule.
