The BJP staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday, accusing the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government of undermining constitutional provisions to deliberately delay the panchayat elections.
Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur alleged that the government introduced changes to the reservation roster through a backdated notification issued on March 30. He claimed that empowering deputy commissioners to alter up to 5% of reservation allocations violates Article 243D of the Constitution, asserting that reservation must remain strictly based on population and rotation.
Thakur warned that granting discretionary powers to officials would distort representation across panchayat, block, and district levels, particularly impacting seats reserved for women.
Addressing reporters ahead of the assembly proceedings, Thakur alleged that the Sukhu government is attempting to avoid the panchayat elections through administrative and legal tactics.
While the elections were constitutionally mandated for December, Thakur said the government only moved forward after the Himachal Pradesh high court directed that they be held by April.
The state subsequently approached the Supreme Court citing natural disaster-related concerns, but the apex court rejected the plea and ordered the completion of elections by the end of May.
{{/usCountry}}The state subsequently approached the Supreme Court citing natural disaster-related concerns, but the apex court rejected the plea and ordered the completion of elections by the end of May.
{{/usCountry}}The BJP said these “arbitrary roster changes” weaken grassroots democracy and damage democratic institutions.
The opposition has now sought a detailed discussion on the floor of the House, terming the government’s interference a serious violation of democratic norms.