Shimla, April 16
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that upcoming elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies in the state will not be conducted on a party basis, allowing individuals to contest independently for posts such as Pradhan and Block Development Committee members. He added that the issue will also be discussed in an upcoming political affairs meeting, along with the women’s reservation bill.
Speaking to the media, Sukhu said the state government favours maintaining a non-party format for grassroots-level elections. He noted that any eligible candidate would be free to contest for key positions in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies without party affiliation.
The Chief Minister said that the matter, along with the women’s reservation bill, would be taken up for deliberation in the political affairs committee. He also informed that the Congress has recently restructured its internal organisation, and meetings involving the political affairs committee, the working committee, and district presidents are currently underway.
Elections to a large number of local bodies in Himachal Pradesh are due in the coming weeks, including panchayats, municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
The announcement is expected to shape the conduct of grassroots elections in the state, with a continued emphasis on non-party participation and broader representation at the local governance level.
