Himachal Pradesh gears up for Dec panchayat polls, EC to unveil roster soon

Himachal Pradesh is set to hold elections to its Panchayati Raj institutions in December 2025, with the State Election Commission expected to announce the election roster by October 15, the state’s Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Anirudh Singh, said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Shimla, Singh said, “In view of the Panchayati Raj elections, the State Election Commission will soon issue the roster. The elections are proposed in December 2025, and the roster or announcement is likely by October 15.” (The roster is a schedule listing the dates and phases of elections for different local bodies.)

On questions regarding the Congress party’s organisational restructuring ahead of the polls, Singh clarified that the Panchayat elections are held on a non-party basis. “Elections to Panchayati Raj institutions in Himachal Pradesh are not held on party symbols. So whether the party’s organisation is restructured or not has no bearing on the polls. Even without an organisation, Congress-supported candidates will perform strongly,” he said.

The minister made these remarks during the inauguration of a five-day State-level Rural Food Festival (Gramin Swaad Mahotsav) at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Shimla.

Singh’s statements highlight the state government’s preparations for the upcoming Panchayat elections, alongside efforts to promote rural economy and cultural initiatives. Last month, he had also clarified that the Panchayat polls are unrelated to the formation of the state Congress body. “The state Congress body will be announced soon, but that has nothing to do with Panchayat elections,” Singh had said.