Suspense on Panchayat elections 2026: Will there be a major election battle with the Assembly in 2027?

Lucknow. A big and shocking news is coming for the candidates who are preparing to try their luck in the rural politics of Uttar Pradesh. The three-tier Panchayat elections proposed in the year 2026 may now be postponed till 2027 due to administrative complications and political calculations. If this happens, then a rare sight will be seen in the state, where voting to elect the village government and the state government can be conducted simultaneously or at very short intervals. This news has given sleepless nights to the claimants who were active in the area for the last several months.

Reorganization of OBC Commission becomes a big hurdle

The biggest reason for the ‘brake’ on Panchayat elections is technical and legal. The original tenure of Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Commission (OBC Commission) has ended in October 2025. Although the government had extended it, the situation has changed after the petition filed in the High Court. Now the government will have to set up a new dedicated commission under the Supreme Court’s ‘triple test’ formula. This commission will conduct a ‘rapid survey’ in the entire state and collect data on the actual population of backward classes, on the basis of which a new reservation list will be prepared. According to experts, this entire process may take at least 6 months, due to which it seems impossible to meet the deadline of 2026.

Master Plan 2027: BJP’s strategy?

There is discussion in the political circles that there are not only administrative reasons behind the postponement of elections, but there is also a deep strategy of the ruling party. It is believed that holding Panchayat elections just before the Assembly elections 2027 could be risky. In rural areas, the party may have to bear the brunt of factionalism among workers at the local level in the assembly elections. In such a situation, the strategy being made is to first pass the litmus test of the assembly elections and only then the chessboard for the Panchayat elections should be laid.

Two legendary faces will ride on Akhilesh’s ‘cycle’

On one hand, there are clouds of uncertainty over Panchayat elections, on the other hand, Samajwadi Party (SP) has intensified its social engineering for the great struggle of 2027. Akhilesh Yadav is going to include two such faces in the party, who can change the equation of Muslim and OBC votes:

• Naseemuddin Siddiqui: Former number-2 of BSP and Congress leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui can officially hold the ‘cycle’ on February 15 in Lucknow. His strong base in Western UP and Bundelkhand can prove to be a lifeline for SP.
• Anees Ahmed alias ‘Phool Babu’: Phool Babu, several times MLA and former minister from Bisalpur, Pilibhit, will also take membership of SP along with his supporters. His hold in the Terai belt will strengthen Akhilesh’s clan.

Command may go into the hands of administrators

If the elections are not held on time, then ‘receivers’ i.e. administrators can be appointed as soon as the tenure of the current village heads, block heads and district panchayat presidents ends. This is likely to have a direct impact on the pace of development work and local politics. At present, all eyes are on the next step of the government and the formation of OBC Commission.