Facilitating unanimity, an uphill task in Malwa

Facilitating unanimity on the constitution of panchayats is an uphill task in many villages in this part of Malwa.

Amid reports of sarpanches being elected unanimously in several villages, there seem to be many a slip between cup and lips for some sarpanches.

‘Patti’ (mohalla), political allegiance and conflict over certain local demands were cited as major impediments in arriving at unanimity.

Rivals of the unanimously announced nominee are leaving no stone unturned to prompt some suitable person for contesting the election.

The Chief Minister’s village, Satauj in Sangrur district, is no exception to the tendency where villagers aired opposing views on the short-listing of names for unanimity for the sarpanch’s post during an open debate.

Acknowledging the tendency, Harbans Singh Happy, a social activist, said villagers were considering the names of 4-5 aspirants for the post of sarpanch. “Though we have supporters and followers of almost all political parties in our village but none of them can be accused of foiling attempts to elect panchayat unanimously,” said Happy acknowledging that people had varied choices.

While Happy was once felicitated by the then Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, for being elected the youngest Block Samiti member, now he advocates unanimity irrespective of political allegiance of the aspirants. Sports stadium, bank branch, better irrigation and higher education facilities, and better facilities for members of reserved categories and women were major issues raised by villagers, who opposed apprehended attempt to arrive at a ‘closed door unanimity’.

Dehliz Kalan village of Malerkotla district, too, has presented similar picturesque where former SAD Sarpanch Ajmal Khan and his supporters came forward to the villagers’ campaign for the unanimity for the sarpanch’s election. Hazi Shagir Mohd, a close associate of Congress MP Amar Singh Boparai, was garlanded as a token of being the ‘unanimously elected sarpanch’. However a few hours later, Aam Aadmi Party leaders declared to launch lambardar Akbar Khan as their candidate.

A parley of meetings of senior functionaries of various organisations of Chhanna village were held to discuss issues related to the election of village panchayat, and ultimately, Sukhwinder Singh Samra, a youth leader, was the unanimous nominee for the sarpanch’s post.

“Though I have been lucky to be shortlisted as a unanimous nominee for post of sarpanch of my native village, I can understand that there are many a slip between cup and lips. We will celebrate the achievement of the villagers only after the electoral process is completed for posts of panches, too,” said Samra.

The authorities at the election offices of the region revealed that a sarpanch or panch would be deemed elected unanimously only if no other nomination was received by 3 pm on October 4. In case of single nomination also, nominee’s candidature would be okayed after the scrutiny of their file.

“We have to follow a complete electoral procedure for the elections of sarpanches and panches as per the guidelines laid down by State Election Commission and wait for nominations till 3 pm on October 4,” said Harbans Singh, SDM of Malerkotla and Ahmedgarh.