UP Panchayat Elections Likely to Be Deferred, Polls May Be Held After 2027 Assembly Elections

Lucknow:
The three-tier Panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh, scheduled for April–May 2026, are likely to be deferred due to multiple administrative and technical constraints. If the delay materialises, the rural body elections may now be conducted after the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, sources indicated.

Though no official announcement has been made so far, the slow pace of preparations by the government and political parties has strengthened speculation regarding the postponement. Officials, however, have remained cautious and refrained from making formal statements.

Census and Board Examinations Major Hurdles

According to election officials, the State Election Commission is scheduled to publish the final electoral rolls on March 27. At the same time, board examinations will be underway across the state, significantly limiting the availability of administrative staff.

Furthermore, the first phase of the national census — the house-listing survey — is scheduled for May–June 2026. Over five lakh government officers and employees are expected to be deployed for this massive exercise, along with extensive training programmes in advance. This overlap is being cited as a major obstacle to conducting Panchayat elections within the stipulated timeframe.

OBC Reservation Formula Yet to Be Finalised

Another significant reason for the likely delay is the pending issue of Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in Panchayat elections. As per Supreme Court guidelines, a dedicated Backward Classes Commission must be constituted to determine the reservation formula.

The proposal for forming the commission has reportedly been pending with the state government for the past seven months. Officials said that once constituted, the commission would require at least three to four months to prepare and submit its report. Even if formed next month, the report is unlikely before June 2026, making timely elections difficult.

Monsoon and Other Electoral Commitments

The onset of the monsoon in July further complicates the election schedule, as election authorities traditionally avoid large-scale polling exercises during heavy rainfall.

In addition, elections to 11 seats of the Legislative Council, including teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies, are proposed in October–November 2026. Following this, preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections are expected to intensify.

The second phase of the census, involving population and caste enumeration, is scheduled for February 2027. With the census process and Assembly election notification expected to overlap, finding a suitable window for Panchayat polls appears increasingly unlikely.

Demand to Continue Current Village Heads

Meanwhile, the Gram Pradhan Organisation of Uttar Pradesh has urged the Chief Minister to appoint existing village heads as administrators if the elections are postponed.

Organisation president Kaushal Kishore Pandey, in a letter to the Chief Minister, said that following the Rajasthan model, current Gram Pradhans should be allowed to continue as administrators to ensure continuity of development works in rural areas. He added that if the government manages to conduct elections on time, the organisation would welcome the move.