Congress govt. in Himachal changing election rules to hijack local body polls: BJP State chief

BJP Himachal Pradesh President Rajeev Bindal on Saturday (May 30, 2026) accused the Congress government of attempting to hijack the urban local body and Panchayati Raj elections in the State.

He said that through a notification issued on May 27, the government amended the Municipal Election Rules and granted deputy commissioners discretionary authority to determine the timing of meetings for the election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the government has been consistently undermining democratic institutions, constitutional values and established democratic traditions, Mr. Bindal claimed.

Panchayati Raj elections, which should have been conducted in October-November 2025, were "deliberately delayed, pushing the State towards a constitutional crisis", he said.

Accusing the Congress government of misusing of administrative machinery, political influence and money power, Bindal said it is an attempt to gain control over municipal councils, block development committees and Zila Parishads through the backdoor.

He further said the urban local body elections were completed on May 17, but notifications regarding the elected councillors were not issued in a timely manner. The BJP had to approach the high court, following which the notifications were finally issued, according to the BJP leader.

"Earlier, such elections were conducted within a fixed timeframe and under a well-defined procedure. The new arrangement provides opportunities for political pressure and influence over elected representatives," he claimed in the statement.

The BJP state chief said that changing rules and procedures after the electoral process has already begun is contrary to democratic principles and the spirit of electoral laws. "Despite this, the Congress government has amended the rules to suit its political interests, which is highly objectionable and condemnable," he said.

Instead of respecting the mandate given by the people, the Congress government is attempting to manipulate and distort it for political gain, he added.