Jaipur, April 8: Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has sharply criticized the state government for the delay in conducting Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections in Rajasthan. In a statement released on the social media platform X, he accused the BJP government of fostering an undemocratic mindset, which he claims is deepening the constitutional crisis in the state. Gehlot pointed out that it has been over a year since the terms of the Panchayati Raj and urban bodies expired, yet elections have not been held. Instead, administrators have been appointed, which he argues is a direct assault on democratic governance.
Gehlot referenced constitutional provisions, stating that Article 243E mandates a five-year term for Panchayati Raj institutions and requires timely elections. Similarly, Article 243U imposes the same obligation on urban local bodies. He emphasized that according to Article 243K, the State Election Commission is an independent constitutional body responsible for conducting fair and timely elections. Therefore, postponing elections contradicts the spirit of the Constitution.
He accused the state government of deliberately delaying elections under the pretext of delimitation, reorganization, and the ‘One State, One Election’ policy. Gehlot cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in the 2021 development case of Kishanrao Gawali, which clarified that such reasons do not constitute valid grounds for postponing elections.
Furthermore, Gehlot noted that the Rajasthan High Court has repeatedly instructed the government to conduct elections in February, March, and November 2025, but these directives have been ignored. Ultimately, the High Court set a final deadline of April 15, 2026, for conducting elections after hearing 439 petitions. The Supreme Court’s dismissal of a Special Leave Petition, upholding this order, indicates a clear stance from the judiciary. However, Gehlot expressed concern over the government’s apparent lack of seriousness in addressing the issue.
He described the situation not only as administrative failure but as a constitutional breakdown. When the government continuously violates Articles 243E, 243U, and 243K, and obstructs citizens’ voting rights for an extended period, it poses a serious threat to democracy. Gehlot lamented that crushing the fundamental spirit of decentralization, local self-governance, and public participation, as enshrined in the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, is deeply unfortunate.
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