Jaipur: The political tussle over delayed panchayat and urban local body elections intensified Sunday after former MLA Sanyam Lodha threatened contempt proceedings against State Finance Commission Chairman Arun Chaturvedi for suggesting that the polls could be held between Oct and Dec.
Chaturvedi's Statement
Speaking to reporters in Bhilwara, Chaturvedi said the state government would conduct panchayat and municipal elections between Oct and Dec as part of its “One State, One Election” initiative.
Lodha's Reaction
Lodha, a petitioner in the Rajasthan High Court case on local body elections, said the remarks were contrary to the court’s directions mandating that the state government and the State Election Commission complete the election process by July 31.
“As a person holding a constitutional post, he should be aware of the High Court’s orders. His statement appears to encourage the government not to comply with the court’s directions,” Lodha said.
He alleged that Chaturvedi’s remarks amounted to interference in the judicial process and urged him to withdraw the statement and publicly affirm that the court’s order would be respected. Lodha said that if Chaturvedi failed to retract his remarks within 15 days, he would move the court seeking contempt action.
Chaturvedi's Response
Responding to the criticism, Chaturvedi said the timing of the elections would ultimately be decided by the State Election Commission. “It doesn’t matter who said what. The Election Commission has to decide the poll schedule,” he said, adding that Lodha was free to initiate contempt proceedings if he wished.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy stems from a Nov 2025 High Court order directing the state to hold panchayat and municipal elections by April 15, 2026. After missing the deadline, the government sought additional time, citing delays in receiving the OBC Commission report and other administrative issues. Petitioners, including Lodha and Girraj Singh Devanda, have alleged that the government deliberately delayed the polls for more than 18 months.
