Jharkhand Civic Polls: Commission Clears the Air

Due to the vacancy of the post of chairman in the commission, the process of triple test was not able to speed up.

While the civic elections will speed up the works related to the public, the grants being stopped by the central government will also be released. Due to the stoppage of grants from the center, development work in the urban area is stalled.

Buzz about civic elections intensifies

In Jharkhand, buzz about civic elections has intensified in recent days. Congress has demanded to conduct elections on party basis. At the same time, BJP has accused the government of deliberately delaying the elections. On the other hand, the government has said that elections will be held soon. Hearing is also going on in the Jharkhand High Court on this matter.

What did the High Court say?

During the last hearing, the High Court had given four months to the Jharkhand government to conduct the municipal elections and asked it to complete it by May, but this order could not be followed due to the triple test survey not being completed and lack of other preparations.

During the hearing on the petition on January 13, the High Court expressed deep displeasure over not conducting municipal elections in the state.

The court had said that this appears to be a case of contempt. The state government cannot stop the elections in the name of the triple test process for OBC reservation in municipal bodies. The government has also expressed its resolve to hold elections soon in the court.

After the nomination of the chairman and member in the Jharkhand State Backward Commission, now there is a possibility that if there is no obstacle, the municipal elections will be held by the end of this year.

When will the municipal elections be held?

Recently, the team of the 16th Finance Commission came on a four-day tour of Jharkhand. The chairman of the commission clearly said that the state government should conduct municipal and panchayat elections, only after that the dues will be paid.

He had also said that if the state government conducts elections to the bodies by December, then the outstanding amount of the previous financial year will also be received.

Due to the absence of elections, the grant amount of the 15th Finance Commission has also not been received. Due to the absence of elections, the central government has withheld the payment of Rs 1600 crore. In such a situation, if everything goes well, these elections can be completed by the end of this year.

Questions raised on the survey too

Questions have also been raised on the process of triple test survey in Jharkhand. State President of Rashtriya OBC Morcha Rajesh Kumar Gupta had alleged that only formality is being completed in the name of triple test. Due to the lack of clear caste-wise correct number, it will be difficult to decide the reservation in the election correctly.