Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Friday refuted BJP’s claims of deliberately postponing the panchayat elections, and accused the party of opposing everything and diverting attention. He said, “BJP makes everything a big issue. It has become the BJP’s policy to oppose everything. They only want to divert attention. When disaster struck in 2023, BJP was demanding that the assembly session be called. Disaster The session was delayed due to… At that time we discussed the disaster, but during the discussion on the disaster of 2023-24, the BJP walked out of the House… This time the disaster is bigger than 2023… We have spoken to all the Deputy Commissioners, who said that they have not yet succeeded in connecting the panchayats with roads.”
He blamed the delay on the ongoing disaster in the state, which he said is worse than the 2023 disaster. Sukhu said that the Deputy Commissioners have complained about the difficulties in restoring road connectivity to the Panchayats, which is hampering the election preparations.
He said, “The disaster relief work was getting affected due to the panchayat elections, so it was decided that as soon as the roads are restored, we will conduct the panchayat elections… After the rains stop, our first duty and responsibility is to provide relief to the disaster affected people… The elections will definitely be held. As soon as the roads are restored to all the panchayats, the elections will be conducted.”
On October 9, the Himachal Pradesh government wrote to the State Election Commission, seeking postponement of the upcoming panchayat and local body elections, originally scheduled to be held in December 2025 and January 2026, citing huge damage caused by the monsoon and the restoration process. The government used powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to justify the move, citing widespread damage to infrastructure, roads and private property in several districts.
Keeping in view the damaged roads and adverse condition of public and private property, in exercise of the powers conferred on me under sub-section (e) of section 24 of the Act, I order that the elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions shall be held only after proper connectivity is restored throughout the State so that there is no inconvenience to the general public as well as polling personnel and no voter loses his right to vote due to road connectivity issues.
The order said Monsoon 2025, active since June 19, caused large-scale devastation in Himachal Pradesh, including 47 cloudbursts, 98 floods and 148 major landslides, resulting in 270 deaths, along with 198 deaths in road accidents. The Chief Secretary highlighted that due to extensive damage to roads and bridges, it became impossible to ensure safe access to polling stations. Is.
Gupta said, “There has been massive devastation in the state and roads and bridges have been washed away in many areas. In such a situation, how will the polling parties and voters reach the polling stations? Winter has already set in in the state.” He further said that the government has written to the Commission asking it to postpone the elections “until the situation improves at the ground level”.
Deputy Commissioners of Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur and Shimla have also written a letter to the Panchayati Raj Secretary recommending postponement of the elections under the Disaster Management Act. They cited security concerns about voters, poll workers and the transportation of election materials. He said that the district administration is busy in relief and rehabilitation work and the repair work of roads in rural areas is still incomplete.
Regardless of the government’s recommendation, the State Election Commission will review the basis of the government’s request before taking a final decision. Panchayat and municipal elections, covering more than 3,000 panchayats and 71 municipal bodies, are traditionally held in December and January, a time that often sees heavy snowfall and cold wave conditions. ,
