SHIMLA — After months of uncertainty and legal interventions, the machinery for the Himachal Pradesh Panchayat elections has finally kicked into high gear. The state government, following strict directives from the courts, has released the official schedule for the delimitation of Panchayat wards, marking the first concrete step toward holding the delayed local body polls.
According to the notification issued by the Panchayati Raj Department, the entire process of redrawing ward boundaries and finalizing reservation rosters must be completed by March 31, 2026. This deadline aligns with the recent Supreme Court order which mandated that all preparatory work be finished by March end to ensure elections can be conducted by May 31.
The Roadmap to Polls The process will begin immediately with the preparation of initial proposals for ward delimitation. District officials have been instructed to draft these proposals based on the latest population data. Once the draft is ready, it will be open to the public for objections and suggestions.
“This is a critical phase,” said a senior official from the State Election Commission. “We have a tight window to address public grievances regarding ward boundaries before locking them in. The transparency of this process is vital for free and fair elections.”
Key Dates to Watch:
- Draft Publication: The initial list of ward boundaries will be published for public view in early March.
- Objection Period: Residents will be given a specific window (likely 7-10 days) to file objections with their respective Block Development Officers (BDOs) or Deputy Commissioners.
- Final Roster: After resolving all disputes, the final reservation roster—determining which seats are reserved for SC, ST, and women candidates—will be released on March 31.
Why the Delay? The five-year term of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) ended in January 2026. However, the state government had sought a deferment citing the aftermath of last year’s monsoon disaster and the ongoing census operations. The delay led to a legal battle, with the High Court initially ordering polls by April 30, a deadline later extended by the Supreme Court to May 31 due to logistical challenges.
With the schedule now public, political activity in rural Himachal is expected to surge as aspiring candidates begin their groundwork for the upcoming battle of the ballots.
