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Panchayat polls on party symbols demanded

Staff Correspondent

Congress opposes the move

SHIMLA: With the deadline for panchayat elections in Himachal Pradesh approaching fast, the demand for conducting the elections on party symbols is gaining momentum. All major opposition parties, including the CPI (M) and the BJP, are vociferously making this demand on every available platform. The BJP, which was so far against this condition in panchayat elections during its own rule in the State, has surprised everyone, especially the Left parties who have been demanding introduction of symbols for a long time now.

The new State BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP, Suresh Bhardwaj, who has strong RSS leanings, had demanded it for the first time this year and is now also being supported by his party. Political Observers are calling it a "timely and tactical" demand made after the ever- descending graph of the Congress in the hill State. The Congress had lost all the by-elections after coming to power in 2003. The BJP wants a repeat in the panchayat elections too. Senior Congressman and State Panchayati Raj Minister Sat Mahajan had categorically denied introduction of party symbols in the coming panchayat elections a few days ago. The Minister had called it a "pointless and ineffectual" demand of some opposition parties.

Interestingly, the Congress has now been isolated on the issue.

According to opposition parties, the Congress was opposing the move because it fears defeat in the elections

However, the Panchayati Raj Minister said that an amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act would be necessary if the elections are held on party symbols.

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