‘Delay in GP elections will threaten decentralised system of democracy’

Team Udayavani, May 22, 2020, 4:09 PM IST

Bengaluru: Former chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Karnataka assembly Siddaramaiah on Friday, May 22 criticised the delay in conduct of Gram Panchayat elections in the state.

The Congress leader questioned why the government as well as State election commission had not initiated any action for the electoral process when the tenure of almost all Gram Panchayats in the state will end in June-July.

In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah said that the delay in the elections to elect the members of Gram Panchayat will threaten the decentralised system of democracy and goes against the objectives of 73rd Constitutional amendment act.

State election commission’s inaction towards initiating the electoral process, to replace the outgoing Gram panchayat members, is unconstitutional & also violates the provisions of Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act 1993.

1/4#SavePanchayatRaj

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 22, 2020

The delay in the elections to elect the members of Gram Panchayat will threaten the decentralised system of democracy & also goes against the objectives of 73rd Constitutional amendment act.

3/4#SavePanchayatRaj

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 22, 2020

On KS Eshwarappa’s announcement that the government would form administrative councils at every Gram Panchayat, Siddaramaiah pointed out that Administrative Committees to the Gram Panchayats could be appointed only when it is not possible to conduct elections or when no members get elected even after 2 elections.

Administrative Committees to the Gram Panchayats can be appointed only when it is not possible to conduct elections or when no members get elected even after 2 elections.

But we are not facing any such situation now, so Administrative Committees cannot be appointed.

4/4

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 22, 2020

It may be recalled Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa had said that the Panchayat elections in Karnataka will be postponed for six months due to COVID-19 pandemic. Barring a few gram panchayats, the tenure of others will end by June-July. Towards this end, Eshwarappa said that the government would form administrative councils at every Gram Panchayat.