Madhya Pradesh govt withdraws ordinance on panchayat election

Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Sunday withdrew the ordinance promulgated last month for conducting panchayat polls, paving the way for cancellation of elections to rural local bodies (RLB) in the state, scheduled to be held in three phases in January and February, 2022.

The proposal to rescind the ordinance by the state cabinet was sent to governor Mangubhai Patel for his assent, state parliamentary minister Narottam Mishra told reporters here.

He said the panchayat polls, process for which has already started, were being held on the basis of the recently issued ordinance and the state election commission would have no option but to cancel the RLB polls since the ordinance was withdrawn.

The panchayat polls were scheduled to be held in three phases on January six, January 28 and February six.

Filing of nominations for the first and second phases of the elections has already ended.

State panchayat raj minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia squarely blamed the Opposition for the situation.

He said Congress moved the high court and later the supreme court challenging

MP cabinet withdrew the ordinance promulgated last month for conducting panchayat polls, paving the way for cancellation of elections to rural local bodies (RLB) in the state, scheduled to be held in three phases in January and February, 2022

THE PROPOSAL to rescind the ordinance by the state cabinet was sent to governor Mangubhai Patel for his assent, state parliamentary minister Narottam Mishra told reporters here

the ordinance, leading the apex court to direct the state election commission to declare seats reserved for other backward classes (OBC) as general in the polls.

The assembly later passed a unanimous resolution not to hold panchayat polls without OBC reservation.

This led the state cabinet to withdraw the ordinance to pave way for cancellation of panchayat elections, he added.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and former chief minister Kamal Nath said his party was demanding withdrawal of the ordinance from the very first day since it was unconstitutional.

“Better late than never”, he remarked.