Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Rajasthan was "flouting" Supreme Court orders and the Constitution by delaying elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and Urban Local Bodies (ULB). In a video statement, the former Chief Minister claimed that the functioning of Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies has nearly come to a halt, asserting that the BJP was avoiding elections out of fear of losing.
Gehlot alleged that even though the term of the ULBs and PRIs has ended, the state government has appointed administrators instead of conducting elections. He noted this as a "direct violation of the Constitution."
The senior Congress leader highlighted that Articles 243-E and 243-U of the Constitution mandate elections every five years, and their term cannot exceed this period. He also cited Supreme Court rulings which require panchayat elections every five years.
The Congress leader condemned the government's decision as anti-democratic, saying it undermines the very purpose of these institutions, which is to create grassroots leadership. The last ULB elections took place in November 2019 and on January 2020, the last PRI elections were conducted.
Also read: Gehlot says no differences in Mahagathbandhan over seat sharing
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