BJP defends appointment of district Panchayat administrators, accuses Congress of hypocrisy
PNS | DEHRADUN
The Bharatiya Janata Party has refuted allegations of discrimination and disappointment raised by the Congress over the appointment of district panchayat presidents as administrators in the district panchayats of Uttarakhand. According to the BJP, the process adheres to established rules and is not unprecedented.
The BJP State media in-charge, Manveer Singh Chauhan told The Pioneer that the Congress itself amended the Panchayati Raj Act in 2016 to enable such appointments and is now shedding crocodile tears under the guise of showing concern for panchayat representatives. He said that the amendment made during the Congress-led government’s tenure allowed for the appointment of administrators under the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act. He further stated that the decision to appoint administrators in district panchayats is constitutionally sound and aimed at preventing disruptions in development work across the districts.
Chauhan said that rather than politicising the matter, the Congress should review the facts thoroughly, as their earlier policy framework is now being upheld. Chauhan said, “The Panchayati Raj Act does not permit an extension of the tenure of village heads or block chiefs. The High Court dismissed a petition regarding this in 2021 and has already provided clear guidelines on the issue. While administrators have been appointed, they have not been granted financial powers or the authority to make policy decisions, which remain under the jurisdiction of the government.” Taking a dig at the Congress’ functioning, Chauhan described the party as being controlled by its central leadership rather than being State-driven. He criticised the remarks made by former Congress State president Ganesh Godiyal, who suggested central leaders’ intervention in State matters.
Chauhan called such suggestions hypocritical, claiming they reflect Congress’s dependence on the high command. He also referenced the recent Kedarnath by-election, where, according to Chauhan, the Congress’s State leadership was sidelined when the central leadership decided the candidate and conducted surveys in a single day. This, he asserted, demonstrated how Congress lacks a state-centric approach. Chauhan lauded the BJP as a cadre-based party that takes decisions locally, ensuring that state issues are addressed within the state.
