Shimla, April 1 -- The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, accusing the state government of deliberately delaying Panchayat elections and undermining constitutional provisions.

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, while addressing mediapersons ahead of the Assembly proceedings, alleged that the government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was attempting to avoid holding Panchayat polls through administrative and legal manoeuvres.

"Panchayat elections in Himachal Pradesh are constitutionally mandated after completion of their five-year term. These were due in December, but the government has been trying to delay them on one p...