Himachal Assembly Winter Session Begins with Heated Debate Over Delay in Panchayat, Local Body Elections

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania has admitted an adjournment motion moved by BJP MLAs Randhir Sharma, Surinder Shourie and Rakesh Jamwal, seeking suspension of Question Hour for an immediate discussion on the alleged delay in Panchayat and urban local body elections.

The confrontation between the state government and the Election Commission is expected to shape the opening proceedings of the Winter Session.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the government is ready for a “healthy, fact-based debate,” adding that there was no attempt to avoid discussion on the issue.

Opening the debate, Sharma accused the Congress government of acting against public interest by attempting to defer the polls, despite the State Election Commission’s preparedness to conduct them on time. He alleged that government actions had created an unnecessary conflict with the Commission.

In the midst of uncertainty surrounding Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections, the Cabinet on Monday approved the reorganisation of panchayats — a move the BJP claimed was intended to delay the electoral process. The party pointed out that the decision came after the State Election Commission, on 17 November, invoked a key clause of the 2020 Model Code of Conduct and issued a notification preventing any structural, classification or boundary changes to panchayats and municipalities.

Sharma demanded that the government immediately announce the schedule for the postponed elections, calling the delay “an insult to the Constitution.” He also termed the use of the Disaster Management Act to defer the polls “unconstitutional,” questioning the rationale behind it.

“If children can attend school, why can’t their parents go to a polling booth to cast their vote?” he asked.

The standoff between the government and the Election Commission is expected to dominate the early days of the Winter Session.