The Hindu : Other States / Madhya Pradesh News : Panchayat polls countermanded over dacoit menace

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Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

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Other States - Madhya Pradesh

Panchayat polls countermanded over dacoit menace

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, JAN. 11. Acting on a recommendation by the District Collector in the wake of terror unleashed by the Rambabu-Dayaram Gadaria gang of dacoits, the State Election Commission has countermanded the Panchayat elections in the Bheempur and Deori village panchayats of Shivpuri district. The dreaded Rambabu-Dayaram Gadaria gang had killed 13 persons at Bhanwarpura in Gwalior district on October 29 last year.

The decision to countermand the elections for the two Shivpuri village panchayats was taken shortly after the Governor, Balram Jakhar, had asked the Chief Minister, Babulal Gaur, to ensure necessary measures for fair elections to panchayats in the State. The Governor had expressed concern in this matter when Mr. Gaur called on him on December 30.

There was large-scale violence, bogus voting and attempts to capture the polling booths during polling for the recently concluded civic polls in different parts of Madhya Pradesh. In this backdrop, the concern expressed by the Governor for ensuring free and fair panchayat polls acquires significance.

The recent State Government decision to withdraw the gunmen and security personnel provided to the people's

representatives by the State Police due to the Panchayat polls also came under severe criticism from a section of MLAs cutting across party lines. Some of these MLAs said it was difficult for them to move in their constituency without security cover due to the dacoit menace.

The election process for the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions in Madhya Pradesh began on December 22 with the filing of nominations and the polling would now be held in three phases on January 16, 19 and 23.

The Secretary of State Election Commission, Arun Tiwari, told The Hindu that polling would be conducted for 8471

village panchayats in the first phase, 7597 village panchayats in the second phase and 6811 village panchayats in the third and final phase of polling.

Besides the village panchayats, 313 Janapad Panchayats and 48 Zilla (district) Panchayats are also being covered under the election process. The counting of votes at the block headquarters would be held on January 27 and 28. The results for the Panch, Sarpanch and Janapad Panchayat elections would be announced on January 27 and 28, while those for the district Panchayats on January 29.

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Panchayat polls countermanded over dacoit menace