No new panchayats in Kerala, rules High Court

[related-post]

Earlier, the court had nullified the formation of a few municipalities after splitting municipal corporations.

The move of the government to erect new local bodies, both village panchayats and municipalities, was seen as an attempt to wrest power in the new local bodies and municipalities.

CPI (M)-led Opposition had alleged that the government has formed new local bodies in a manner creating vote bank of a particular community. The boundaries of wards in local bodies were shaped to ensure that voters from one particular community dominated the vote bank. In the Congress-led Government, the Indian Union Muslim League is holding the portfolio of local bodies.

The elections to local bodies in Kerala is slated for this October. The State Election Commission had informed the government that the coming elections would be held only on the basis of the existing wards. However, the government wanted the elections be conducted after factoring in the formation of new panchayats. Hence, the high court decision nullifying the formation of new local bodies would become crucial in the final decision.