Uttarakhand Congress MLAs Protest Alleged Panchayat Poll Rigging

On August 19, 2025, Congress MLAs in Uttarakhand escalated their protest in the state assembly in Gairsain, demanding an urgent discussion on alleged rigging in the recent panchayat elections and the deteriorating law-and-order situation. The agitation persisted even after the House adjourned for the day, with legislators staging a dharna that began at the start of the Monsoon session and continued into the evening. The protests led to multiple adjournments of the assembly proceedings due to the uproar.

Congress MLA Lakhpat Singh Butola from Badrinath reported that Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan met with the protesting legislators, and a phone call with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took place. However, no satisfactory resolution was reached, prompting the MLAs to continue their sit-in. Independent MLA Umesh Kumar from Haridwar joined the protest, amplifying concerns over the alleged electoral malpractices.

The Congress alleges significant irregularities in the three-tier panchayat polls, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of undermining democracy. A memorandum submitted to Governor Gurmit Singh by the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee demanded the dismissal of the State Election Commissioner, citing violations of the Panchayati Raj Act and disregard for a Uttarakhand High Court order. Social media posts from the Congress claimed that BJP-backed goons, with police complicity, abducted elected Congress members in Nainital to manipulate district panchayat board formations.

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The BJP, however, claims a strong performance, with 125 of 358 district panchayat seats won and support from many independent candidates. Despite these claims, high-profile losses, including relatives of BJP legislators in districts like Chamoli and Almora, have fueled opposition narratives of public discontent. The ongoing protests highlight deep political tensions as both parties vie for control ahead of board formations.

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