Hamirpur, March 3: Senior spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Himachal Pradesh and former Sujanpur MLA Rajendra Rana has questioned the state government’s decision to form nearly 100 new panchayats, citing the prevailing financial crisis.
In a statement issued on Monday, Rana said that when the government itself has repeatedly spoken about empty coffers and economic distress, the move to create new panchayats appears incomprehensible. He asked the Chief Minister to clarify on what financial assessment the decision was based and whether financial experts were consulted before taking the step.
Rana also questioned whether any clear and concrete budgetary provision had been made for the proposed panchayats. “Each new panchayat will require infrastructure, including a building, secretary, staff and technical support, which will directly burden the state exchequer and ultimately the public,” he said.
He pointed out that currently one Panchayat Secretary is handling the work of four to five panchayats, affecting development works. In rural areas, lack of technical assistants has already delayed several schemes. Instead of strengthening existing panchayats, forming new ones raises serious concerns about the government’s priorities, he added.
Rana alleged that the decision was politically motivated and aimed at delaying panchayat elections. He claimed that while some areas eligible for new panchayats based on population were ignored, in other places panchayats were divided without clear justification.
He clarified that the BJP is not opposed to the creation of new panchayats, but stressed that such decisions must be based on transparency, clear policy and financial discipline. Without long-term planning, he warned, the move could further increase the state’s debt burden.
Rana urged the government to take responsible and visionary decisions in public interest to safeguard the economic and administrative future of Himachal Pradesh.
