Yogi government blames High Court for Panchayat polls

Facing flaks over conduct of Panchayat election, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has blamed the Allahabad High Court for forcing government to hold the Panchayat elections.

"The decision to conduct the elections of the Gram Panchayats stemmed from the directions of the Allahabad High Court to the Government of the State of Uttar Pradesh," a statement from the government said here on Sunday.

The third phase of Panchayat election is on Monday. The teachers' association has asked government to postpone polls as around a dozen teachers who conduct polls have tested covid positive.

The statement further said: "It was in the compliance of the High Court's order that the UP government had to go through Panchayat polls despite Covid scare".

It is noteworthy that these elections were due in December 2020 itself. For the reason that of the ongoing Covid pandemic, the reorganisation and delimitation of Panchayats was delayed. The writ petitions and subsequent decision of the High Court compelled the state government to hold the election, it said further.

In the writ petition number 23377 of 2020 filed by, Vinod Upadhyay against the State of Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court in its order dated February 4, 2021, directed the State Election Commission to complete the direct elections process of the Panchayats by April 30, 2021. In compliance, the stat government initiated the process of reservation and allotment by March 15, 2021, government spokesman said.

"The state government did not want to conduct panchayat elections in 2021, but it was not possible to disobey the orders of the High Court," he said.

The statement said that, it is noteworthy that even under the shadow of pandemic, the panchayat elections are being conducted as per the due Corona protocols issued by the state poll panel. In view of the coronavirus situation, not more than five persons are allowed to accompany a candidate in a door-to-door campaign. No voters are allowed to cast their vote without wearing a mask and facility of hand wash is also available at each polling booth. Along with that, social distancing is being followed. Instructions have also been issued to make circles maintaining a distance of six feet between voters standing in the queue.

The four-phase panchayat elections in the state of Uttar Pradesh started from April 15. Counting of votes and declaration of result will take place on May 2. Voting for the third phase of the panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held on Monday with more than 3.52 lakh candidates in the fray in over 2.14 lakh seats across 20 districts of the state.