By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 21 May: The Uttarakhand Government has revised the maximum expenditure limits for candidates contesting the forthcoming panchayat elections, even as preparations are underway for the conduct of polls by mid-July.
With the approval of the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 by the Governor, the State Election Commission is now expected to announce the election schedule shortly. As per sources, the government is aiming to complete the entire electoral process by 15 July, and all necessary arrangements are being undertaken both at the government and commission levels.
According to the revised notification issued by the State Election Commission, the maximum expenditure limits for various posts in the panchayat elections have been increased. The expenditure cap for the contestants for the post of Gram Panchayat Member remains unchanged at Rs 10,000, and that for the contestants of Deputy Sarpanch (Up-Pradhan), Gram Panchayat is retained at Rs 15,000. However, the limit for Sarpanch (Pradhan) candidates at the level of Gram Panchayat has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. The same increase has been applied to Block Panchayat Members, whose new ceiling now stands at Rs 75,000. The limit for candidates for District Panchayat Member has been enhanced from Rs 1,40,000 to Rs 2,00,000. The cap for Junior Deputy Chief of Block Panchayat candidates has been raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, and for the Senior Deputy Chief of Block Panchayat candidates, from Rs 60,000 to Rcs 1,00,000. Candidates for Block Panchayat Chiefs will now be able to spend up to Rs 2,00,000, up from the earlier Rs 1,40,000. The Candidates for the post of Vice President of District Panchayat can now spend Rs 3,00,000, up from Rs 2,50,000, while the cap for candidates for the post of District Panchayat President has been raised from Rs 3,50,000 to Rs 4,00,000. Secretary of the State Election Commission, Rahul Kumar Goyal, disclosed that the revised limits have been fixed in comparison to the 2019 panchayat elections, except in the case of Gram Panchayat Member and Deputy Sarpanch posts, which remain unchanged.
It may be recalled that the tenure of the three-tier panchayats in 12 districts, excluding Haridwar, concluded in November and December 2024. Since then, administrators have been appointed to oversee the functioning of the panchayats, whose term is set to end by May 2025. Although the government has started the procedure to extend their tenure for another six months, simultaneous efforts are being made to conduct the elections within the stipulated time to avoid such an extension. It may also be recalled that the Uttarakhand High Court has also asked the government why the panchayat elections are being delayed in response to which the government stated that government is committed to hold the elections at the earliest.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has stated that the government is fully prepared to hold the panchayat elections and is currently awaiting the completion of the reservation process for various posts. Once the reservation list is finalised, the path will be clear for the issue of the election notification, which is expected in June. Generally, the process from notification to counting takes about thirty days, thereby making it feasible to complete the elections by 15 July.
As per data available up to 20 May 2025, there are a total of 47,57,210 registered voters across the 12 districts. The election will cover 7,499 Gram Panchayats, 55,589 Gram Panchayat Members, 7,499 Sarpanchs (Pradhans), 7,499 Deputy Sarpanchs, 2,974 Block Panchayat Members, 358 District Panchayat Members, 89 Block Panchayat Chiefs, 89 Senior Deputy Chiefs, 89 Junior Deputy Chiefs, 12 District Panchayat Presidents and 12 Vice Presidents.
Though the government is processing the extension of administrators’ tenures, officials have indicated that the emphasis remains on completing the elections by July. The period of June to July has been deemed most appropriate for conducting the polls, given the availability of teachers for election duty and minimal interference from the Char Dham Yatra. Any delay pushing the elections to October November may create obstacles due to post-monsoon disasters commonly affecting the hill regions besides a big reprimand from the High Court.
The State Election Commission has completed preparations, including updated voter lists, ballot boxes, ballot papers and polling kits. Once the reservation list is received from the government, the final schedule for the elections will be released. Looking at the past elections, it can be assumed that the entire election process may be concluded within 40 days from the issuance of the reservation list.
