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Himachal Cabinet Clears Panchayat Restructuring, Deepening Rift with State Election Commission
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has approved the restructuring of panchayats despite the State Election Commission’s freeze on boundary changes, escalating the ongoing standoff ahead of PRI elections. With the Disaster Management Act in force and a crucial High Court hearing set for December 22, election uncertainty continues.
Uncertainty around the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections in Himachal Pradesh has deepened, as the state cabinet has decided to move forward with the restructuring of panchayats despite the State Election Commission (SEC) freezing their boundaries. The decision has further intensified the ongoing friction between the government and the SEC.
At its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the cabinet approved the reorganisation plan, even though the SEC had directed that no changes be made to the structure, classification, or jurisdiction of panchayats until the election process was completed. The SEC’s order, issued on November 18 under the Himachal Pradesh Model Code of Conduct for Panchayats and Municipalities (2020), explicitly prohibits any alteration to existing boundaries.
Meanwhile, the election department has received 42 proposals from across the state for restructuring panchayats. At the same time, deputy commissioners have begun collecting ballot papers and other election materials as per the SEC’s timeline—underscoring the operational challenges facing the state machinery.
Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh reiterated that the Chief Minister remains committed to holding elections on time. However, he acknowledged that the situation remains complicated, with the Disaster Management Act still in effect and the matter pending before the High Court. The next hearing is scheduled for December 22.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi echoed this view, stressing that any decision regarding PRI elections must take into account the implementation of the Disaster Management Act. He added that the government would continue to work strictly within its legal mandate despite the challenges.
The state government had invoked the Disaster Management Act on October 8, 2025, postponing PRI elections on the grounds that road connectivity in several areas had not yet been restored after recent natural disasters. With administrative pressures and legal constraints converging, the path to conducting the elections appears far from straightforward.
