Shima, Himachal Pradesh: The Himachal Pradesh government has announced a significant change to the reservation roster rules ahead of the upcoming Panchayat elections. Panchayats that were reserved for a particular category twice consecutively will now be opened for the current elections. The Panchayati Raj Department issued a notification last evening implementing these amendments.
Implementation of New Rules Across 3,700 Panchayats
The newly notified Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Election) Amendment Rules, 2026 will directly impact elections for over 3,700 panchayats across the state. According to the Supreme Court, panchayat elections must be completed before May 31, 2026. Consequently, Deputy Commissioners of all districts are required to issue updated reservation rosters by March 31.
Revised Rosters to Replace Previous Preparations
Earlier, most district Deputy Commissioners had finalized reservation rosters under the old rules. However, the state cabinet’s recent decision to reopen panchayats previously reserved twice in a row necessitates a complete revision. DCs will now have to re-establish the reservation roster in accordance with the amended guidelines.
This move is expected to affect the reservation status of numerous panchayats, potentially altering the electoral landscape for the upcoming local body elections in Himachal Pradesh.