HimVani
Shimla: Bhartiya Janta party (BJP) state unit is not in favor of contesting the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections on party symbols. State convener of panchayati raj election cell of BJP, H.N. Kashyap in a press conference in Shimla on Wednesday said that holding the Panchayati Raj Elections on Party symbols can obstruct the development process so party does not support the concept of conducting PRI elections on party symbols. He said BJP had constituted a state executive keeping in the view the upcoming panchayati raj elections.
Also, flaying the charges by congress party about changes in reservation roaster for the ensuing panchayat elections he said that reservation has been started afresh in state due to fifty percent reservation for women in rural body elections and only some minor changes have been done in the Panchayati Raj Act. “It was the congress that changed the reservation roaster to win the panchayat elections in the year 2005,” he alleged. “The 11th schedule of 73rd amendment of constitution has given powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions in different areas, but, during the previous congress government these powers were merely symbolic. It was the present BJP government which has transferred the powers in real sense to the PRIs,” he said. He said that current BJP government transferred power to the PRIs and urban local bodies. Kashyap said that government is changing the roster because 50 percent reservation is given to the women and there is a need to change the roster.
