Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Himachal Pradesh: SEC Seeks State Govt's Support for Panchayat Elections
The State Election Commissioner of Himachal Pradesh wants the Chief Minister to help with upcoming village council elections.
He says they've never had this problem before and needs the government's support to fix it.
The Commissioner is mostly ready for the elections, but needs some things from the government to proceed.
State Election Commissioner Anil Kumar Khachi seeks unconditional support from CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for PRI elections in Jan 2026
Khachi calls current scenario unprecedented in his career, but not a crisis
SEC and state govt must work together for elections, says Khachi
Khachi seeks clarity on reservation roster and lifting of election-related work restraint
SEC prepared with voter lists for most gram panchayats and ULBs
- Who
- State Election Commissioner Anil Kumar Khachi, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
- What
- Seeking support for Panchayati Raj Institution elections
- When
- January 2026
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh
- Why
- To conduct elections within the prescribed time frame
State Election Commissioner's View
State Government's View
Delimitation Process
State Election Commissioner's View
Khachi issued a notification barring the delimitation process, stating it falls within the SEC's purview
State Government's View
CM says SEC must follow the Cabinet-approved delimitation decision
Election Conduct
State Election Commissioner's View
Khachi says panchayat elections require joint efforts of both institutions and seeks unconditional support
State Government's View
CM's response not explicitly stated in the article
- Election Date
- January 2026
- SEC's Readiness
- Voter lists for 3,548 out of 3,577 gram panchayats and all 70 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) completed
- Remaining Gram Panchayats
- 29, with final voter lists to be ready by December 1
- Khachi's Tenure
- Over three-decade-long bureaucratic career, appointed as SEC in August 2021