The Himachal Pradesh government has declared that conducting panchayat elections requires a substantial budget of Rs 100 crore and the deployment of approximately 55,000 government employees, even as the ongoing enforcement of the Disaster Management Act continues to delay the electoral process.
No Local Body Elections Until Disaster Act Lifted
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made a significant announcement in the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday, stating unequivocally that elections to panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies will not be conducted while the Disaster Management Act remains in force across the state. The CM emphasized that from Thursday onward, the State Election Commission must operate under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
"From today, the State Election Commission cannot issue any directions to the state government regarding PRI and ULB polls. Any orders of the SEC contrary to the DMA do not apply," Sukhu stated during his reply to an adjournment motion brought by opposition BJP legislators.
Massive Resources Required for Election Process
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh provided detailed insights into the logistical challenges facing the election process. The government requires Rs 100 crore specifically for conducting PRI elections, along with the mobilization of around 55,000 government employees. This workforce includes 10,000 police personnel and Home Guard Volunteers.
Additionally, the election infrastructure demands the establishment of 21,147 polling booths across the state, highlighting the massive scale of operations needed for conducting local body elections in Himachal Pradesh.
Political Clash Over Election Timeline
The announcement sparked immediate reactions from BJP members, who interrupted Minister Singh's speech, alleging that financial constraints represent the real reason behind the government's reluctance to conduct elections. Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal claimed, "Money is one of the reasons why the state is running away from the panchayat elections. State government is hoping that Centre will release funds."
Balbir Verma, BJP MLA from Kupvi, raised legal concerns by referencing a Himachal Pradesh High Court verdict that mandated panchayat elections should be conducted before the tenure of existing panchayats concludes. He warned that holding elections after January would constitute contempt of court.
Natural Disasters Complicate Election Planning
Chief Minister Sukhu defended the government's position by highlighting the severe impact of natural disasters that have plagued Himachal Pradesh since 2023, with this year's situation being particularly severe. The monsoon mayhem caused widespread damage in Mandi, forcing the government to invoke the Disaster Management Act.
"The apple season was completely ruined due to damaged roads. In such circumstances, how could I ask DCs to focus on panchayat election duties? Still, we never issued any such direct orders. Our first priority was to restore normalcy," Sukhu explained, emphasizing the practical challenges faced by district administrations.
The Chief Minister clarified that while elections have been temporarily halted, they haven't been postponed. He assured that the government initiated the process of forming new panchayats in June and instructions were issued to deputy commissioners, but the disaster situation necessitated a shift in priorities.
Constitutional Provisions and Political Assurance
Sukhu reminded the assembly that the Constitution provides a six-month window for holding local body elections after term expiry, and the government remains committed to conducting polls within this framework. He countered opposition criticism by recalling that the previous BJP government had postponed Shimla Municipal Corporation polls citing assembly elections.
Following the Chief Minister's comprehensive reply on the adjournment motion, BJP MLAs staged a walkout from the House. The motion, brought by BJP's Randhir Sharma, Surender Shourie, and Jeet Ram Katwal, was ultimately rejected by a voice vote.
