Contradictory statements on Panchayat Polls | Decide who’s bigger, ministers or bureaucrats: Governor to HP govt

Interacting with mediapersons in Shimla, the Governor said that holding panchayat elections is a constitutional arrangement, and everyone should follow the Constitution. He said that there would be an atmosphere of instability if Assembly elections are not held on time.

“Similarly, postponing the panchayat polls would not be conducive to democracy. The state election commission and the government should sit together, resolve the issues and conduct the elections,” he said.

Earlier in the day, State Election Commissioner Anil Kumar Khachi had called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan. Shukla told reporters that he had received a sealed report from Khachi pertaining to the Panchayat elections. “I have not yet gone through the report,” he added.

While Khachi refused to disclose the specifics of his discussion with the Governor, sources privy to the meeting said, the SEC briefed Governor “on readiness, constitutional obligations, and the government’s stand” on the panchayat polls.

The state poll panel and the government are at loggerheads over whether to proceed with panchayat polls as per the schedule. On October 9, Chief Secretary and chairman of the State Executive Committee Sanjay Gupta had announced that the panchayat polls would be held “only after restoration of proper connectivity”, considering the damage to roads and private and public property during the monsoon season. However, the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, along with several other of his Cabinet colleagues, had maintained that the elections would be held on time.

Amid Opposition charge that the ruling Congress was running away from polls fearing imminent defeat, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has been saying that the panchayat elections will be held, but only after the road connectivity to all the villages is restored.

The elections to over 3,500 gram panchayats in the state were to be held in December 2025-January 2026. The last date for conducting the election is January 23, and the state election commission has initiated the process with the preparation of electoral rolls.

Tension escalated earlier this week when the SEC invoked Clause 12.1 of the Model Code of Conduct, issuing instructions restraining the government from undertaking any delimitation exercise for Gram Panchayats or Urban Local Bodies. The directive is seen as a preventive measure against any last-minute administrative restructuring before the elections. The SEC directive came days after the Himachal Urban Local Department issued a notification proposing the delimitation of Nadaun and Una Municipal Committee on November 15.

Earlier, on Thursday, two senior bureaucrats — newly appointed Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, C Paulrasu, and Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta — arrived separately at the SEC office in Shimla. Their visits, a few hours apart, were viewed as highly significant in administrative circles.

Sources said both officers urged Khachi to reconsider and withdraw the SEC’s order prohibiting delimitation activities. The government is keen to carry out certain boundary adjustments in rural and urban bodies, arguing that administrative changes are necessary for smoother governance and better service delivery.

During the meetings, the officers also briefed Khachi on the ground situation across several districts where road connectivity remains disrupted due to weather-related damage.

According to officials aware of the discussions, the tone of the meeting was “cordial but formal.” While the bureaucrats presented the government’s concerns about logistics, safety, and accessibility, the SEC is learnt to have reiterated its constitutional responsibility to hold elections within the mandated timeframe unless extraordinary circumstances justify a delay.