Seasoned Congress leader Ashok Gehlot launched a strong attack on Sunday, accusing the Rajasthan BJP government of deliberately ignoring both Supreme Court mandates and the Indian Constitution. His contention? The government is dragging its feet on holding elections for crucial Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
In a video message, the former Chief Minister emphasized that this delay has effectively brought local governance to a standstill. He asserted that the ruling BJP is intentionally avoiding these polls because they fear an unfavorable outcome.
Gehlot further highlighted that despite the terms of these ULBs and PRIs having already expired, the State Government has opted to appoint temporary administrators instead of initiating the democratic electoral process. He labeled this move a ‘direct violation of the Constitution,’ undermining fundamental principles of local self-governance.
The influential Congress figure pointed to specific constitutional provisions, Articles 243-E and 243-U, which unequivocally stipulate that elections must be held every five years, and the tenure of these bodies cannot be extended beyond this period. He reinforced his argument by referencing multiple Supreme Court judgments that consistently uphold the necessity of quinquennial panchayat elections.
Gehlot passionately denounced the government’s decision as fundamentally anti-democratic. He argued that such actions erode the very foundation of these institutions, whose primary role is to foster and develop leadership at the grassroots level, empowering local communities.
For context, the most recent urban local body elections took place in November 2019, while the last Panchayati Raj Institution elections were conducted in January 2020.