Shimla ZPower Balance Hinges on Three Members
Shimla August 3
The election of the Shimla Zila Parishad chairperson and vice-chairperson was deferred on Monday after BJP-backed members and three Independents boycotted the special meeting, leaving the house without the required strength to conduct the election. The development has intensified the political contest in the 25-member Zila Parishad, where no side enjoys a clear majority.
According to officials, only Congress-backed members attended the meeting, while BJP-supported members and three Independent councillors stayed away, preventing the election process from moving forward. A fresh date for the election is expected to be announced by the district administration.
The political arithmetic has made the three Independent members the decisive factor in the election. Both the Congress and the BJP are understood to be reaching out to the Independents, whose support could determine the outcome of the contest for the district’s top rural local body posts.
The chairperson and vice-chairperson are elected through a simple majority of the elected Zila Parishad members. With the House sharply divided, the absence or support of a few members is expected to play a crucial role once the election is rescheduled.
The deadlock comes amid heightened political activity following the recently concluded Panchayati Raj elections in Himachal Pradesh, where the composition of several Zila Parishads has led to closely fought contests for leadership positions.
