Assam's panchayat election to be held within 6 months, confirms Minister Ranjit Kumar Dass

Assam Minister Ranjit Kumar Dass on February 6 confirmed that Panchayat elections in the state would be conducted within the next six months. This announcement comes as the result of comprehensive considerations regarding the recent delimitation exercise, necessitating the restructuring of constituencies and Panchayat units.

Minister Ranjit Kumar Dass outlined the procedural steps towards ensuring a fair and constitutional electoral process. He revealed the formation of a committee comprising Zila Parishad members, tasked with the crucial responsibility of overseeing the re-establishment of Panchayat structures in alignment with the revised constituency blocks. Stressing the importance of constitutional compliance, Das assured that the elections would be conducted following the due process, after the impending Lok Sabha elections.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Minister Dass underlined the potential consequences of delay, pointing out that failure to conduct the elections within the stipulated timeframe could result in Assam being deprived of the 15th financial grant. 

The minister also spoke on the categorization of areas into A, B, and C categories based on population density. This classification will inform the electoral strategy, with specific approaches tailored to the unique demographic characteristics of each region. The population census will play a crucial role in determining the distribution of voters across different Panchayat formations.

While acknowledging potential challenges arising from an increased number of Panchayats, Minister Dass assured that the government is actively addressing such issues. Through  planning and consultation with relevant stakeholders, efforts are underway to mitigate any potential complications that may arise during the electoral process.