Rajbhar Responds to SP and BJP Accusations Over Panchayat Poll Delays

During an interview on October 16, Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar tackled criticism from the Samajwadi Party, which accused the state government of postponing Panchayat elections for political gain. Rajbhar countered that the delay is procedural, tied to the pending Backward Classes Commission report that will finalize reservation quotas.

He questioned the opposition’s confidence, remarking that their anxiety about the 2027 election outcomes is evident. “What will happen to you then?” he asked, targeting the political rivals.

Rajbhar also reiterated Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement that certain opposition elements have previously facilitated vote‑rigging and fraudulent voting, branding them as “Bangladeshi‑backed vote‑buyers.” He dismissed claims that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar meddled with vote counts, noting Kumar’s experience of a year in office and the fact that previous state assemblies in Delhi, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh were conducted prior to his appointment.

The minister explained that the electoral roll has been purged of deceased voters and duplicate entries, removing a channel that the opposition allegedly used to influence outcomes. He praised the political awareness of India’s youth and asserted that neither the SP nor the Congress will secure victory, describing the two as mutually supportive parties in the current political landscape.