Conducting panchayat poll on time a constitutional obligation of govt: Guv

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla today said that holding panchayat elections on time is a constitutional obligation of the state government and the State Election Commission, and any delay would create instability. “Holding panchayati raj elections on time is a constitutional arrangement and everyone should follow the Constitution,” he said while speaking to mediapersons. The panchayat election issue, over which the government and the commission have been at odds for a while, officially reached the Raj Bhavan when State Election Commissioner Anil Khachi called on the Governor this morning.

While saying that the state government and the election commission should discuss and hold the elections, the Governor expressed concern over the inconsistency in the statements of ministers and the bureaucrats over the elections. “While ministers are saying that elections will be held on time, the bureaucrats working under them are filing reports to the contrary. Seven Deputy Commissioners have sent in reports that elections can’t be held under the current circumstances. Both the statements can’t be true. It’s for them to analyses who’s bigger – the ministers or the bureaucrats,” the Governor said.

Given that Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta and Secretary Rural Department and Panchayati Raj C Paulrasu reached out to Khachi a day before and apprised him of the constraints in holding the elections on time, Khachi’s meeting with the Governor is significant. “The Election Commissioner has given me sealed letter, which I’ve not been able to read yet,” the Governor said.

When the disagreement between the government and the election commission had escalated, Khachi had said that apprising the Governor of the “lack of cooperation” from the government machinery was an option for him.

While the standoff between the government and election commission seemed to have softened after yesterday’s meeting between Khachi and the Chief Secretary, it remains to be seen how the election issue plays out after being brought to the notice of the Governor. The matter is in the court as well where it will be heard on December 22.

Meanwhile, Secretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has asked all Deputy Commissioners to follow the orders of State Election Commission. The Deputy Commissioners have been asked to collect election material from Shimla. The election commission will shortly prepare the schedule for collecting the material again.