Even as Rajasthan government is aiming to conduct local bodies and panchayat elections in one go under one state one election, the state election commissioner Madhukar Gupta – the constitutional body responsible toy confusing extols of local bodies and panchayats – categorically denied conduction the polls under one state one election.
The BuckStopper was the first to report that state election commission is not ready to conduct elections under one state one election.
“It is practically not possible unless there is amendment in constitution. There is currently no provision under which elections can be held ahead of time for those Panchayati Raj institutions and bodies which have not completed five years,” he said.
Gupta also cited lack of resources like EVM machines and other paraphrenalia needed for ‘One State, One Election'.
However, he said that the commission will announce dates for conducting elections in 11,000 panchayats and 150 local bodies in 7-10 days.
“There is a clear provision in constitution that elections in local bodies and panchayats should be held on completion of five years. High Courts and the Supreme Court from time to time reprimand states to conduct polls in time under the given provisions,” he said.
Recently, Rajasthan High Court had pulled up state government for not conducting the panchayat polls and delaying it on the pretext of delimitation.
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
