Raipur: After the tenure of Mayors was over, and the civic bodies administration entered in interim set up, the Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr Charan Das Mahant wrote a letter to State Election Commissioner (SEC) Ajay Singh, reminding him to conduct the elections of three-tier Panchayats and civic bodies on time.
Key positions in the majority of the civic bodies and Panchayat are occupied by the Congress leaders. In that context, the letter also created political outcry. Congress recently also alleged that the ruling BJP government intentionally wanted to delay the elections.
In the letter, Dr Mahant outlined the rules of the election commission and reminded the SEC that the Chhattisgarh State Election Commission has been constituted under Article 243-K and 243-ZA of the Constitution of India. It is the binding constitutional duty of this Commission to conduct elections on time as per Articles 243-E and 243-U.
The term of Panchayats and Municipalities is five years from the date fixed for the first meeting held after their election and a new election must be completed before the expiry of this specified period.
The term of the existing elected Panchayats of Chhattisgarh is going to end on various dates in the month of February, 2025. But Chhattisgarh State Election Commission has not yet started the election process for their formation. The term of the existing elected councils of civic bodies will end in the month of January, 2025.
But Chhattisgarh State Election Commission has not yet started the election process for their formation. From this it is clear that the mandatory provisions of the Constitution are being clearly violated for which the Chhattisgarh State Election Commission is completely responsible, he mentioned in the letter.
Dr Mahant cited that the Supreme Court had also directed the state in its judgments to conduct the local bodies elections on time.
