‘Panchayat polls likely in Nov-Dec, will depend on Covid-19 scenario’
RANCHI: The three-tier panchayat polls in Jharkhand can be held in November or December this year, depending on Covid-19 situation in the state, said rural development minister Alamgir Alam on Wednesday.
Panchayat polls in the state were already due since December last year, Moreover, the government was in a catch-22 situation over extension of powers that were given to panchayat bodies in January this year in wake of delay in conducting the polls. The powers expire on July 31. “We could not conduct panchayat polls last year due to Covid-19 pandemic. We thought that the elections will be conducted during the extension period. But, the second wave of Covid-19 ruined that possibility too. It is not possible to conduct the polls by July 31,” said Alam.
The state government in January this year gave a six-month extension to panchayat bodies to keep their daily activities operational. Besides, the Panchayati Raj Act doesn’t mention a second extension, putting officials in a fix.
Therefore, the government has decided to seek the Centre’s opinion over further extension, officials said on Wednesday.
The rural development minister also called a meeting Wednesday to explore alternatives so that panchayat works do not get affected after extension expires. Alam said they were considering two options- to give further extension to panchayat bodies or put them under administrative control. “The Panchayati Raj Act talks only about six months’ extension in case election is not conducted. It doesn’t mention about any extension. So, we have decided to write a letter to Government of India, seeking its opinion if any amendment in the Act is possible. We will also seek advocate general’s opinion in this regard,” Alam said.
He said, “If Covid-19 situation remains under control, we will try to conduct the panchayat elections in November-December this year.”
The tenure of as many as 4,402 mukhiyas (village heads) and panchayat committees ended on January 4 this year. The government could not conduct the polls last year in absence of state election commissioner. In 2015, the fourphase polls for electing the 4,402 mukhiyas, 5,423 panchayat ward samitis and 545 zila parishad committees were held from November 22 to December 12.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand State Mukhiya Association demanded extension of power on line of Madhya Pradesh. JSMA president Vikas Mahto said, “Panchayat polls are also pending since 2019 in MP, where executive committees of Mukhiyas have been set up and given powers. So, extension to panchayat bodies can also be given on line of MP.”
The Panchayati Raj Act talks only about six months’ extension in case election is not held. We have decided to write to GoI in this regard...
ALAMGIR ALAM,
Rural development minister