The Allahabad high court’s categorical order on October 14 directing Uttar Pradesh government to hold three-tier panchayat elections within next three months has brought rural politics back into focus after it was almost settled that the panchayat polls would be held after 2027 assembly elections.
The HC’s intervention has, however, put the government in a tight spot with the three-month deadline taking the rural electoral exercise into January 2027 when preparations for assembly polls will be at peak. political parties have so far shown little public enthusiasm for an early contest While villages are once again abuzz with the prospects of elections. Opposition parties made no hue and cry when the BJP government in the state decided in April-May to defer panchayat polls, understandably till assembly elections nor have they stepped up pressure on the government to implement the court’s order immediately the way they could have. It is widely believed that political parties, ruling or opposition, prefer the rural polls to be held after the assembly elections, apprehending that local rivalries and factional disputes could damage the prospects of their candidates in the bigger electoral battle.
“This time, all major political parties prefer panchayat polls to be held only after assembly elections as they do not want their workers to be pit against one another in highly polarised local rural polls prior to the bigger fight,” a senior BJP leader said.
He also indicated that assembly elections and board examinations would not necessarily pose an obstacle to conducting panchayat polls. The minister’s statement comes amid uncertainty over the government’s next move. The government may file a review petition in the high court itself or approach the Supreme Court to seek relief from the high court order.
The remaining issue, he said, was the report of the Backward Commission Classes Commission which would determine the reservation for OBCs. Rashtriya Panchayati Raj Gram Pradhan Sangthan leader Lalit Sharma said they were not against the HC order asking the government to hold rural polls. Welcoming the HC order, panchayati raj minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Friday said that the government was ready to conduct the elections with ballot papers having already sent to district headquarters and the final electoral rolls prepared.
