"This is a planned move by the BJP government to avoid defeat in mandi committees across the state. The poll results could also influence assembly elections slated for November 2018. Polls could be conducted in the remaining 178 mandi committees. The tenure of members in almost all the mandi committees is ending this month. Now, it has been extended to June 2018, just five months ahead of the assembly elections and it would be impossible for the government to carry out these elections before the assembly polls, sources said.

Source: Times of India December 06, 2017 16:30 UTC