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Himachal Assembly Winter Session: Opposition targets government over delay in panchayat, urban local body polls

Moving an adjournment motion, the BJP accused the Himachal Pradesh government of ‘mocking the Constitution’ by delaying elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.

3 min readDharamshalaNov 26, 2025 12:58 PM IST

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Photo:X@SukhuSukhvinder)

The opening day of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly’s Winter Session on Wednesday saw the Opposition BJP moving an adjournment motion seeking a debate on the delay in conducting elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

The BJP moved the adjournment motion under Rule 67, following which Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania admitted it and deferred all other listed business, including Question Hour. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu urged that the debate be based strictly on facts and stated that the government had “no objection” to a discussion on the issue.

The motion was brought by senior BJP leader and MLA Randhir Sharma, MLA Surender Shourie, and MLA Jeet Ram Katwal.

Initiating the debate, Sharma accused the state government of being in “conflict” with the State Election Commission and of “mocking the Constitution” by allegedly delaying the elections. “A senior Congress leader always used to hold the Constitution in his hands while taking out foot marches across the country to ‘save the Constitution’. But here in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress government itself is making a mockery of it,” he said.

Sharma also taunted the government over its proposed event in Mandi, saying, “Mandi was the worst-affected district during the 2025 natural disaster, yet the government is planning to hold its function there to mark three years in office. Does this mean the disaster is over?”

Responding sharply, CM Sukhu rejected the allegation, clarifying, “I would like to state in the House that we are not holding any celebration in Mandi on the completion of three years of our government. We will only be presenting our government’s vision. We will reply to all the Opposition leaders at the end of the debate.”

Sharma further alleged that the Congress government was “manipulating the delimitation process” to favour its local leaders. He said some Congress functionaries were pressuring government officials to alter village and ward boundaries to ensure their electoral victory.

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He also accused the government of using this year’s natural disaster as a pretext to delay Gram Panchayat elections. Sharma said the State Election Commission had already begun preparations for holding panchayat and urban local body elections in May 2025, and that the government intervened to stall the process.

The eight-day Winter Session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly will conclude on December 5.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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