Panchayat – Poll Delay Row Deepens as BJP Targets Himachal Government
Panchayat – Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday accused the state government of deliberately slowing the remaining stages of local body elections to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from taking charge in institutions where it claims to have secured a majority.
BJP Questions Delay in Completing Election Process
Speaking at a press conference in Shimla, Thakur alleged that the Congress-led government was reluctant to conduct Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies elections because it anticipated an unfavourable outcome. According to him, the BJP had to seek legal intervention from both the High Court and the Supreme Court before the election process could move forward.
He said the Supreme Court had directed that the election process be completed by May 31. In his view, the order covered not only polling but also the election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons across Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads.
Allegations Over Administrative and Legal Changes
Thakur claimed that the government repeatedly attempted to postpone the electoral exercise through administrative measures. He alleged that the Disaster Management Act was cited to delay the process, reservation rosters were revised and election-related rules were amended to extend timelines.
He further alleged that an earlier rule requiring the election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons within seven days of the declaration of results had been removed. According to him, the revised framework allows authorities to hold these elections at a later date, creating uncertainty over the completion of the democratic process.
BJP Claims Strong Performance in Local Elections
Highlighting his party’s electoral performance, Thakur said the BJP had secured majorities in 10 of Himachal Pradesh’s 12 Zila Parishads. He also stated that the party had emerged ahead in several Panchayat Samiti chairperson elections already completed.
Referring to Municipal Corporation elections, Thakur said the BJP registered victories in Dharamshala, Mandi and Solan, winning three of the four civic bodies that recently went to the polls. He described these results as a reflection of public support for the party at the grassroots level.
Claims of Uneven Election Scheduling
The BJP leader alleged that election dates for chairperson and vice-chairperson posts were being announced only in local bodies where the Congress had numerical strength, while similar elections remained pending in BJP-majority institutions.
He further accused the administration of attempting to pressure elected representatives through vigilance inquiries, alleged encroachment cases and transfers involving their family members employed in government service. According to Thakur, such actions were aimed at influencing political loyalties after the elections.
BJP Warns of Fresh Legal Action
Thakur said the BJP was preparing a record of officials, including Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Magistrates, whom the party believes failed to announce election schedules despite repeated requests.
He maintained that if delays continue, the BJP would once again approach the courts to ensure that the remaining electoral process is completed in accordance with democratic principles.
Concerns Raised Over Sujanpur Municipal Council Election
The former Chief Minister also referred to the chairperson election in Sujanpur Municipal Council of Hamirpur district. He alleged that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate conducted the voting through a show of hands instead of a secret ballot, claiming the procedure violated established election norms.
Thakur additionally alleged irregularities in the nomination process in Hamirpur, claiming that official records had been altered in a manner that affected BJP candidates.
Criticism of State Government and Employee Issues
Targeting Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Thakur said the government should honour the public mandate instead of delaying post-election formalities. He also compared the situation with political developments in West Bengal, alleging a reluctance to accept electoral outcomes that did not favour the ruling party.
Responding to another question, Thakur said the BJP would decide on appropriate legal and administrative steps after reviewing the conduct of officials involved in the election process.
Commenting on the ongoing agitation by HRTC employees and the implementation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), he alleged that the Congress government had failed to fulfil commitments made to government employees and was responding to protests through restrictive measures instead of resolving their concerns.