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Manohar Dhiman, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly, has voiced strong objections regarding the current Panchayati Raj elections in Himachal Pradesh. He argues that the democratic process is being compromised through intentional administrative and legal manipulations. Dhiman claims that the state government, fearing a loss, has orchestrated a calculated scheme to disqualify candidates supported by the opposition and suppress public dissent.

Dhiman highlighted several 'clear and undeniable' instances of this alleged suppression:

• Last-Minute Ordinance: On May 6, 2026, the government implemented the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, just one day prior to the nomination dates (May 7, 8, and 11). This left candidates with less than 24 hours to comprehend or contest the sweeping changes.


• Disqualification of Women in Indora: A new provision added to Section 122 of the Panchayati Raj Act now categorizes 'daughter-in-law' as part of the family definition. Consequently, women married into families with historical land disputes or encroachment issues are being deemed ineligible to run, despite having no ties to these long-standing problems. Dhiman criticized this as 'anti-women and regressive.'


• Voter Registration Issues: Numerous women from neighboring states, who have settled in Indora and possess ration cards and voter IDs, have been disqualified from reserved seats due to complications regarding 'bonafide' and caste certificates. Dhiman contended that while the government accepts their votes, it denies them the right to contest.


• Rejection of Nominations: In the Indora block, 449 nominations for ward panch and 71 for BDC were submitted. However, many opposition-backed applications were reportedly rejected by returning officers over minor clerical mistakes, labeling them as 'fraudulent.' Dhiman accused the government of exploiting recent stringent rulings from the Himachal High Court to impose six-year bans on candidates, aiming to eliminate rural opposition leadership.

Describing the elections as 'neither free nor fair,' Dhiman pledged to contest these decisions through appeals to higher authorities and legal avenues. He reassured the residents of Indora, particularly the affected women, that their fight would persist:

“We will not bow to this oppressive policy. The self-respecting people of Indora will expose this government’s authoritarianism with the power of their vote,” Dhiman asserted.