Crisis on civic elections in Uttarakhand! Opposition’s allegation ‘government is afraid of defeat’, minister said – constitutional obligation
The tenure of 102 civic bodies of Uttarakhand has ended on 2 December 2023. In such a situation, the government has appointed administrators on the bodies for the next 6 months. In such a situation, politics has also started regarding the delay in elections. The opposition says that BJP is troubled by the defeat, due to which it wants to postpone the elections. At the same time, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Premchand Aggarwal has termed the delay in civic elections as a constitutional compulsion.
Let us tell you that a petition was also filed in the Nainital High Court to conduct the civic elections in Uttarakhand on time. On which the High Court also took a strict stance and gave strict orders to the government to conduct civic elections in Uttarakhand before the end of the tenure of the administrators i.e. June 2. On which the government also showed seriousness and gave an affidavit in the court that it will conduct the civic elections before June 2, but now such a situation does not seem to be happening.
After the strictness of the High Court, the government gave an affidavit, but did not prepare
On January 9, 2024, the government gave an affidavit regarding the strictness of Nainital High Court to conduct the civic elections on time. Through which it was assured that the civic elections would be conducted before the completion of the tenure of 6 months of the administrators, but despite this, the government did not seem to be very serious about conducting the civic elections.
The code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections was imposed across the country on March 15, 2024. This code of conduct will remain in force till June 6, 2024. Meanwhile, on June 2, 2024, the tenure of the administrators appointed in the civic bodies in Uttarakhand is coming to an end. Now the government is making the excuse of code of conduct.
However, the opposition says that even after the government gave an affidavit in the High Court on January 9, 2024 regarding timely conduct of civic elections, the government did not make any preparations till March 15, 2024, the date of implementation of the code of conduct.
Advocate and Congress leader Abhinav Thapar says that the government should have done homework regarding reservation before conducting civic elections. Along with this, the voter list was to be updated, but no such exercise was done during this period.
Now due to constitutional obligation the time of administrators will be extended
However, after the tenure of the civic bodies in Uttarakhand ended on December 2, 2023, the six-month period of the administrators appointed is also coming to an end on June 2, 2024. Whereas, the code of conduct is still in force in the state.
Urban Development Minister Premchand Aggarwal enumerated the compulsions
Just as there was apprehension that the government would once again postpone the civic elections under the guise of the code of conduct, something similar was seen. When Urban Development Minister Premchand Aggarwal was asked about civic elections, he said that it is our constitutional obligation.
The code of conduct is in force in Uttarakhand, hence elections could not be held and the code of conduct will remain in force till June 6, 2024. Whereas, the time of administrators is ending on June 2, 2024. In such a situation, the government is forced to extend the time of administrators. Urban Development Minister Premchand Aggarwal has declared it a complete constitutional compulsion.
When will the civic elections be held in Uttarakhand?
After all, when will the civic elections be held in Uttarakhand? This question remains. According to the government, the civic body is fully prepared to hold elections any time after the code of conduct is lifted on June 6. Similarly, if we talk about the ruling party BJP in Uttarakhand, it has also started preparations at the organizational level for the civic elections.
On the other hand, the opposition is afraid of something else. The opposition clearly says that the government will now conduct the civic elections only after the Lok Sabha elections. Because, both the government and BJP are in a mood to get it done after the assembly by-elections to save their tarnished image in the state.
Congressman said- Government will now make excuse of Chardham, monsoon etc.: Congress leader and advocate Abhinav Thapar says that the government is now increasing the time of administrators. After this, the government will make the excuse of Char Dham Yatra in the state and then monsoon season. This election will be conducted after the Badrinath and Mangalore assembly by-elections in October or November.
