Gujarat Congress spokesman Manish Doshi slams BJP Bharatiya Janta Party government that Gujarat State Election Commission should officially announce reason why Elections of 4000 Gram Panchayats are not being held. In Gujarat, which has given the model of Panchayati Raj to India, Administrators are running 4000 Gram Panchayats for last 3 years to deprive citizens of rural areas of the benefits of democracy.By not holding elections of 4000 Gram Panchayats, BJP government is sustaining Corruption in government schemes including MGNREGA and “Nal Se Jal” Scheme through Administrative Rule.Condemning anti-rural policy of BJP government, Media Convener and Spokesman of GPCC Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, Manish Doshi said that State Election Commission does not want to hold elections in 5400 Panchayats of Gujarat, of which 4000 Panchayats have completed their term in 2022 and 1400 Panchayats whose term is expected to end by 30 June 2025.
One Nation One Election law is to be brought for in Parliament Lok Sabha and state Assembly for which law has not been made yet. Sthanik Swaraj Elections have been postponed for 3 years to use this law. People of villages cannot Elect Local Representatives and the people of villages continue to life fullof hradship.
Districts like Dahod, Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur and Mahisagar continue to suffer from water shortages like MGNREGA and tap water. It is uncertain whether government conducts Sthanik Swaraj Elections or State Election Commission? Since there are no Elected Representatives in 4,000 Gram Panchayats, Administrators are behaving at the behest of the government to please them.
According to Gujarat Panchayat Act 1993/1994 provisions, it is the constitutional responsibility of State Election Commission to hold By-Elections on vacant seats of Sarpanch members in any Panchayat within completion of 12 months.
The State Election Commission cannot stop Elections or withhold Sthanik Swaraj Elections for a long time without any reason. According to Section 13(2) of Gujarat Panchayat Act, 1993, after the term of Gram Panchayat is over, it is dissolved, and fresh elections are required to be held before expiry of the term of the Gram Panchayat or within 6 months.
Fresh Elections have to be held so that a New Panchayat can be constituted. The State Election Commission is responsible for ensuring that the Right of Voters to Elect Local Representatives is not violated in the Constitution.
There is a campaign to postpone the elections just by talking about One Nation One Election, which has nothing to do with Sthanik Swaraj Elections. The State Election Commission should officially announce the reason why Elections of 4000 Gram Panchayats are not being held.
