Overview
- Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta issued the postponement under Section 24(e) of the Disaster Management Act, stating polls will follow restoration of proper connectivity.
- The State Election Commission has received the directive and will assess its basis before fixing a revised schedule.
- Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says the polls are deferred, not cancelled, and could still meet the January 23 statutory deadline if access improves.
- Officials cite severe monsoon damage—47 cloudbursts, 98 flash floods, 148 major landslides, 270 deaths and an estimated Rs 5,426 crore in losses—leaving many roads impassable.
- The BJP alleges a politically motivated delay, pointing to earlier urban local body postponements, while the government emphasizes voter safety and ongoing restoration.