The Aryavarth Express Shimla, (Himachal Pradesh) [India], April 1 : Noisy scenes disrupted proceedings in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, forcing a brief adjournment amid protests by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP had submitted an adjournment motion seeking an immediate discussion on the state government’s decision to revise the reservation roster for Panchayat elections. However, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania kept the request pending, prompting opposition members to raise slogans and demand a debate. The uproar led to the House being adjourned for 20 minutes.
Addressing the protest, Pathania said that during the winter session, he had clarified that any notice admitted under Rule 67 would be taken up for discussion the same day. He added that the matter was under consideration, but declined to allow an immediate debate—further escalating tensions among BJP legislators.
Earlier in the day, BJP leaders staged a protest outside the Assembly, accusing the Congress-led government of delaying Panchayat elections and weakening constitutional provisions. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur alleged that the government, headed by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, was attempting to postpone the polls through administrative and legal means.
Thakur said Panchayat elections, which are constitutionally mandated every five years, were due in December but have been repeatedly delayed. He noted that the Himachal Pradesh High Court had directed the state to conduct elections by April. The government later approached the Supreme Court of India citing disaster-related concerns, but the plea was rejected, with the court directing that elections be completed by the end of May.
