PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS: Record nominations in state, over 52K vie for 13,237 sarpanch posts
The entry of a third significant political party in Punjab’s panchayat elections has led to a record number of nominations for the posts of sarpanches and panches. Though the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) entered the state’s political landscape in 2018, it lacked a well-organised grassroots structure in villages at that time. As a result, the 2018 panchayat elections saw major contests between the then-ruling Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal.
This time, the competitive landscape has broadened, with 52,825 nominations filed for 13,237 sarpanch posts and 1,66,338 for 83,437 panch posts. On average, four candidates are contesting each sarpanch seat, while two are competing for each panch seat. In comparison, the 2018 elections saw 49,261 nominations for sarpanch posts and 165,453 for panch posts.
The last day to file nominations was yesterday, with the elections scheduled for October 15. Although there were some reports of sporadic violence, the scrutiny of nomination papers today is proceeding peacefully under the supervision of State Election Commission observers.
The highest number of nominations for sarpanches and panches has come from Gurdaspur, with 5,317 and 17,484 nominations, respectively. Hoshiarpur and Patiala follow closely. Despite having fewer panchayats, Amritsar has seen record nominations with 14,860 for panch posts and 3,770 for sarpanch posts. Hoshiarpur leads in the number of panchayats, followed by Gurdaspur and Patiala.
The district of Malerkotla has seen the least nominations, with 649 for sarpanches and 2,233 for panches.
The rise of a third political force and the competitive nature of this year’s elections have contributed to the surge in nominations, marking a significant shift in Punjab’s rural political landscape.
