Ranchi, Jan. 9: A Parliamentary poll, an Assembly poll and several byelections have been held in Jharkhand during the past six years; which would indicate that electoral rolls have been checked and corrected, revised and published. If a fresh Assembly poll is required this year, as anticipated by many, the Election Commission would have no difficulty in holding it at six months’ notice or less.

But the state government has not been able to hold either the panchayat polls or election to 40 municipalities and other “urban civic bodies” so far. The reason is simple. Politicians do not want to hold the polls and lose their power to the people. That is why, the desire that the year 2007 should end with democratically-elected civic bodies remains an important wish for the New Year.

What can possibly hold the state back? True, the Jharkhand high court had struck down, in September 2005, the PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act and over half a dozen SLPs (Special Leave Petitions) against the order remain pending before the Supreme Court for more than a year. But two points are important. First, the state government did not go in appeal. Secondly, neither the high court nor the Supreme Court has granted any stay.

Since panchayat elections all over the country have already been held under PESA, heavens will not fall if panchayat polls are held, even if for one last time, under the existing PESA pending a final order by the apex court. It should not be difficult to obtain the permission of the apex court to hold an election, if both the Union government and the state file an application together.

If the apex court upholds the view of the high court, election rules will then change in all states, not just Jharkhand. But although the Union of India has also filed an appeal, ruling and all parties have filed their affidavits, there has not been a single hearing on the SLPs throughout 2006. Jharkhand is said to be losing a whopping Rs 2,500 crore in central grants every year for not having elected panchayats.

Similarly, there is no reason for not holding an election to the urban self-government bodies. Draft rules for holding the poll have been sent for cabinet approval, claim sources in the urban development department.

Can we, then, hope that elections will finally be held in 2007?