Himachal CM Clarifies: Panchayati Raj Polls Postponed, Not Cancelled

Decision to Hold Elections After Restoration of Rural Road Connectivity

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday clarified that elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have been postponed, not cancelled, and will be held once the infrastructure damaged during the monsoon is restored.

Speaking to the media, Sukhu said the elections must be completed before January 23, so there is still adequate time. He explained, “Several Deputy Commissioners have objected to holding the elections right now, as road connectivity in many parts of the state has yet to be restored. Ongoing rains are still hampering repair work. Therefore, under the Himachal Pradesh Disaster Management Act, the decision has been taken to postpone the polls.”

He assured the BJP that the elections will be held, emphasizing that the government’s foremost priority at present is to provide relief for rebuilding homes, repairing roads, and restoring other damaged infrastructure.

“The polls have not been cancelled, only deferred until road connectivity across most parts of the state is restored,” the Chief Minister said. “The Disaster Management Act clearly states that restoration work must be completed first — and since that is still underway, the elections will naturally be delayed.”

Sukhu accused the BJP of exaggerating and opposing every government decision in an attempt to divert public attention from core issues. “In 2023, the BJP demanded that the monsoon session of the Assembly be convened at the earliest. But when we discussed the disaster situation, instead of standing in solidarity with the affected families, they walked out of the House,” he said.

He noted that since June 20, heavy monsoon rains have caused extensive damage to roads and public infrastructure across the state — far worse than the devastation witnessed during the 2023 monsoon.

The state government formally ordered the postponement of the Panchayati Raj elections, which were to be held in December 2024 and January 2025, citing widespread destruction of rural roads and essential infrastructure during the monsoon.

Acting Chief Secretary and Chairperson of the State Executive Committee of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Sanjay Gupta issued the order under the Disaster Management Act, 2025, in view of the significant damage to rural roads and both private and public property.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur also defended the decision, calling the BJP’s criticism politically motivated. “Even BJP-ruled Uttarakhand postponed its local body elections during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.