UP Panchayat Elections Postponed, Village Heads to Run Panchayats for 6 More Months
Yogi Adityanath has announced that existing village heads (Gram Pradhans) in Uttar Pradesh will continue managing local panchayats until new elections are conducted. The decision comes after the current panchayat term ended on May 26 and the state delayed elections due to the ongoing OBC reservation review process.
Under the new arrangement, Gram Pradhans will act as administrators from May 27 onward and will only be allowed to handle routine administrative work. Major policy decisions will require approval from district authorities.
The delay is linked to the formation of a Backward Classes Commission tasked with preparing a fresh OBC reservation report, which may take up to six months. Political observers believe the elections could now be pushed until after the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The incomplete voter list preparation has also contributed to the delay, with the final electoral rolls expected to be released in June.
