The Tamil Nadu government plans to conduct elections for rural local bodies in 28 districts following the completion of delimitation and re-organization processes, according to informed sources. The current term for 314 panchayat unions, 9,624 village panchayats, and 28 district panchayats is set to expire on January 5.
The last local body elections occurred in two phases in December 2019, covering approximately 92,310 positions, which included 76,746 members of village panchayat wards and 9,624 village panchayat presidents. Since 2016, significant measures have been implemented to ensure that half of these positions are reserved for women.
The ongoing delimitation is a result of the government’s earlier announcement regarding the elevation of four municipalities—Pudukkottai, Namakkal, Tiruvannamalai, and Karaikudi—to municipal corporation status. This transition necessitates the merging of village and town panchayats with the newly proposed corporations. Consequently, several village panchayats are set to be integrated with these corporations, significantly altering the local governance landscape.
Moreover, some village panchayats near Chennai and Avadi municipal corporations require enhanced infrastructure development. One notable example is the Vanagaram peri-urban panchayat, which has evolved significantly due to local developments such as the establishment of a corporate hospital.
Vanagaram, initially a village panchayat, was designated as one of 690 peri-urban panchayats in August 2023 based on its proximity to urban local bodies. Factors considered for this designation included population growth, density changes, and the developmental influence of neighboring urban areas. The government asserts that conducting elections without delimitation would delay the process for five years.
In contrast, various grassroots organizations are advocating for immediate elections. These groups argue that timely regional governance is essential for democracy and community engagement.
Supreme Court Ruling
Supporters of immediate elections reference a significant 2022 ruling by the Supreme Court that emphasizes the necessity for local elections to proceed even amid delimitation processes. The court reaffirmed that the election program for local bodies should continue as scheduled, emphasizing the urgency of maintaining democratic representation.
Published – December 24, 2024 08:30 am IST
