Slump in the Panchayats getting elected unopposed
HimVani
Shimla (Dec 20): The growing interest of the people to exercise their mandate has resulted in a sharp decline in the number of Panchayats getting elected unopposed in state in the ensuing PRI poll as compared to the last elections. There were more than three hundred unanimously elected Panchayats during last elections in Himachal Pradesh, while this time only 110 Gram Panchayats in state have been chosen unopposed.
An increase has also been noticed in number of total nominations for PRI elections this time.
After completing of last date of withdrawal of nominations on December 18, only 110 Gram Panchayats has come unopposed and only nominations per seat was received for these Panchayats.
Highest number of Panchayat representative with out any opposition has been choosen in Shimla district. As many as 31 Panchayats in Shimla have been chosen unopposed this time.
On the second spot, 23 Panchayats in Sirmour district have been elected unanimously while in Kinnaur district 19 rural local bodies have been choosen with out any resistance.
Voters in as many as 11 Panchayats in Solan district, 4 each in Mandi, Una and Kullu districts have decided to elect one sided Panchayats.
Only 2 panchayats in Chamba and one in Kangra district has been elected unopposed.
Surprisingly, as many as eleven Panchayats out of thirteen total Panchayats in Kaza block of Tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti have been choosen unopposed. As many as 63 ward members and 12 Block Development Committee members of this block have also been elected unanimously.
As per the government policy each unanimously elected Panchayat will be given a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs and total of Rs 11 crore will be disbursed by the state government among these Panchayats for carrying out development works there.
