Opposition Protests Panchayat Roster Changes, Alleges Misuse of Power

Shimla, April 1, 2026:

The BJP legislative assembly members , led by Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, staged a strong protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Assembly over changes in the पंचायत चुनाव reservation roster, alleging misuse of power by the state government.

Addressing the media, Thakur accused Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of taking “arbitrary decisions” and claimed that granting Deputy Commissioners up to 5% flexibility in roster changes undermines democratic processes. He alleged the move was aimed at benefiting ruling party supporters and influencing election outcomes.

The issue triggered heated scenes inside the Assembly as well, with the opposition demanding immediate discussion under Rule 67. Following rejection of the adjournment motion, BJP legislators staged a walkout.

Thakur termed the decision a direct attack on the autonomy of Panchayati Raj institutions and demanded its immediate rollback.