The Gram Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana has criticised the Government for not taking steps to hold elections to gram panchayats even after the expiry of their term.
In a press release here, the andolana has stated that the Government, on March 26, issued orders appointing administrative officers to 5,628 gram panchayats instead of holding elections to them. This was a grave insult to the democratic system, it said.
It has urged the State Election Commission to immediately announce dates for gram panchayat elections. It has urged the Government to withdraw its orders appointing administrative officers to gram panchayats and apologise to the people for doing so.
If there was any delay in announcing the dates for gram panchayat elections, the andolana would launch an indefinite Statewide protest, the release said.