Shimla, Feb. 1 -- The Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday dissolved elected panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) across the state following the expiry of their tenure and has constituted administrative committees to run gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads until elections are held. According to a notification issued by the department of panchayati raj on Saturday the tenure of existing elected representatives of PRIs in Himachal Pradesh expired on January 31, 2026. However, elections to reconstitute these bodies could not be conducted due to the application of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Himachal Pradesh has 3,577 panchayats. According to the State Election Commission, there are more than 55 lakh voters in the Himachal Pradesh panchayat areas. The dissolution applies to the entire state, except gram panchayats and panchayat samitis in sub-division Keylong of Lahaul-Spiti district, sub-division Pangi of Chamba district, and four gram panchayats of Kullu district. As per the notification, the PRIs are deemed to have been dissolved under Sections 120 and 128 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. The state government has constituted committees to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the dissolved bodies. For gram panchayats, the block development officer will function as chairperson, while the panchayat secretary will act as member secretary. In a statement issued on Saturday, former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur lashed out at the government saying,"More than 30,000 elected representatives will become ineffective. The government and its head, who have been touring the state and holding fasts in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, are strangling the very dream of panchayati raj and gram swaraj that Mahatma Gandhi himself envisioned. This not only reflects double standards but also exposes the reality of the Sukhu government, which is far removed from public interest and concerns."...