TNR News Network
Indora
Former MLA Manohar Dhiman has strongly criticized the ongoing Panchayati Raj elections in Himachal Pradesh, alleging that the democratic process has been undermined by deliberate administrative and legal manipulations. He claimed that the state government, fearing defeat, orchestrated a systematic conspiracy to disqualify strong opposition-backed candidates and silence public voices.
Dhiman pointed to several “clear and undeniable” examples of this alleged suppression:
- Ordinance at the eleventh hour: On May 6, 2026, the government enforced the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, just a day before the nomination dates (May 7, 8, and 11). Candidates were left with less than 24 hours to understand or challenge the sweeping changes.
- Targeting daughters-in-law in Indora: A new clause added to Section 122 of the Panchayati Raj Act now includes “daughter-in-law” within the definition of family. As a result, women married into families with old land disputes or encroachment cases are being declared ineligible to contest, despite having no connection to decades-old issues. Dhiman described this as “anti-women and regressive.”
- Technical hurdles despite voter registration: Many women from neighboring states, long settled in Indora with ration cards and voter IDs, have been disqualified from reserved seats due to complications over “bonafide” and caste certificates. Dhiman argued that the government accepts their votes but denies them candidacy.
- Mass rejection of nominations: In Indora block alone, 449 nominations for ward panch and 71 for BDC were filed. However, returning officers allegedly rejected numerous opposition-backed forms over minor clerical errors, branding them as “fraudulent.” Dhiman accused the government of exploiting recent strict rulings of the Himachal High Court to impose six-year bans on candidates, aiming to wipe out rural opposition leadership.
Declaring the elections “neither free nor fair,” Dhiman vowed to challenge these decisions through appeals to higher authorities and legal action. He assured the people of Indora, especially the women affected, that their struggle would continue:
“We will not bow to this oppressive policy. The self-respecting people of Indora will expose this government’s authoritarianism with the power of their vote,” Dhiman asserted.
