Haryana Gram Panchayat elections have been postponed for January-February next year, owing to the ongoing pandemic.

Making the announcement, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Tuesday said,”Due to the on-going Corona Pandemic, for now, there is no plan to conduct Gram Panchayat elections in Haryana. State Government may consider conducting Gram Panchayat elections in the month of January-February in the year 2021 after the completion of five-year tenure of present Gram Panchayat, provided that COVID-19 situation is under control.”

The Deputy Chief Minister said that till the upcoming Panchayat elections are held, till then the old Gram Panchayats will continue to function and sarpanches will also continue to work without any hindrance.

“As per the amended Panchayati Raj Act, 2020, five-year tenure of Gram Panchayats in the State will start from the day when State Election Commission will issue a notification of the formation of newly elected Panchayat, which means that entire Panchayat along with Sarpanch and Panches will continue to function till the day the announcement for the upcoming Gram Panchayat elections is made”, Chautala said.

Meanwhile, in another development, if reports are to be believed, Union Minister of State and Faridabad MP Krishan Pal Gurjar seems all set to replace incumbent Subhash Barala as the next Haryana BJP chief.

The Union Minister had held the responsibility of Haryana party chief earlier too from 2009 to 2013.