Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has made a definitive statement regarding the much-delayed panchayat elections in the state, clarifying that the polls will be conducted only after the Disaster Management Act is officially revoked from Himachal Pradesh.
Assembly Debate Over Election Delays
The Chief Minister was responding to the debate on an Adjournment Motion brought under Rule 67 regarding the delay in gram panchayat and local bodies' elections during the Winter Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly. The motion was initially introduced by BJP MLAs Randhir Sharma, Surender Shourie, and Jeet Ram Katwal on Wednesday.
Sukhu emphatically stated that the Disaster Management Act, 2005, holds supremacy over the State Election Commission, and any directions issued by the SEC contrary to the DMA framework do not apply to the state government. "From today, the State Election Commission cannot issue any directions to the state government," the CM declared in the assembly.
Legal Framework and Government Position
The Disaster Management Act was enforced in Himachal Pradesh following the severe natural disaster that struck the state in June 2025. Sukhu highlighted that Section 21 of the Act provides special powers to the state government, which the administration intends to utilize fully during this recovery period.
Despite the State Election Commission initiating its processes in June alongside the government's routine proceedings, the administration never anticipated facing a disaster more severe than the 2023 calamity. The Chief Minister clarified that while the government never instructed deputy commissioners to ignore SEC communications, it did advise them to request the election commission to defer certain election-related activities in light of the ongoing disaster management efforts.
Disaster Impact and Recovery Challenges
Sukhu provided detailed context about the sequence of disasters that hampered the state's functioning. Mandi district emerged as one of the worst-affected regions, prompting the Chief Minister to maintain constant communication with Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur during the crisis period.
Barely a month after the initial disaster, another calamity struck Manimahesh in Chamba district, where the Revenue Minister remained stationed throughout the emergency response. Subsequent disasters impacted Kullu and Kangra districts, further stretching the state's administrative resources.
The apple season suffered complete disruption due to extensively damaged roads, creating additional challenges for the administration. "In such circumstances, how could I ask DCs to focus on panchayat election duties?" Sukhu questioned, emphasizing that restoring normalcy remained the government's top priority.
Election Timeline and Process Updates
Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh assured the assembly that the panchayat elections would be conducted within the mandated time frame once conditions permit. The minister confirmed that the reservation roster approved in 2010 would continue, with elections being conducted based on the 2011 Census data.
The Chief Minister revealed that the process of forming new gram panchayats is currently underway, with notifications expected to be issued shortly. Both panchayat elections and local bodies elections are officially due in January 2026, though the final schedule remains contingent on the revocation of the Disaster Management Act.
The government's position underscores the challenging balance between democratic processes and emergency management, as Himachal Pradesh continues its recovery from consecutive natural disasters while preparing for crucial local governance elections.
