Himachal Pradesh : Himachal Govt to Hold Panchayati Raj Elections Before April 30, Says Cabinet Minister

The Himachal Pradesh government will ensure that elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are conducted before April 30, in compliance with directions issued by the High Court.

Although the issue was not formally listed on the agenda, the matter was discussed informally during the Cabinet meeting held here today. Industries and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had directed the concerned departments to complete all necessary preparations for the conduct of PRI elections. He added that Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh had briefed the Chief Minister on the progress made so far.

Meanwhile, Panchayat Pradhans from across the state gathered at the Secretariat today, urging the government to allow them to continue in office until fresh elections are held. They requested the Chief Minister not to appoint Administrators in the interim, arguing that elected representatives were better equipped to understand and address local issues than appointed officials.

However, officials indicated that extending the tenure of Panchayat Pradhans beyond their prescribed term could pose legal challenges.

The state government had earlier deferred PRI elections citing the continued enforcement of the Disaster Management Act, under which holding elections was considered impractical.

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