Indirect election of sarpanches decried

Kothagudem: In the light of State government contemplating indirect election of the village sarpanch, the people are quandary whether the sarpanch elected by ward members could beexercise the same power and authority as that of the sarpanch elected by people directly.

The Bhadradri-Kothagudem district has proposed creation of an additional 102 panchayats in addition to the existing 205 panchayats. Sarpanch will continue in power for five years in spite of corruption since there is no system to recall the sarpanch.

Moving the no-confidence motion against the sarpanch is not yet defined. However, officials are empowered to cancel the cheque power of the corrupt sarpanches. Another view is that such a drastic measure would derail rural development. Ward member elected by a majority of the ward members will become the sarpanch. In case a ward member was to be elected other ward members as sarpanch with a wafer-thin majority, the sarpanch would have to focus on saving his chair rather than developing the village.

Unlike the earlier times, when main political outfits threw their weight behind the sarpanch post aspirants, this time elections will be held directly on party symbols so that the political parties would test their strength at the field level.

Bhadrachalam sarpanch Bhukya Sweta endorsed the indirect elections to sarpanch as it would inject greater transparency in administration. This system would promote development in villages. CPM State committee member A J Ramesh said indirect elections for the sarpanch post would make a mockery of democracy.

Sarpanches association district president Dharawat Chandu Naik said that the decision is violate the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments. It would tantamount to an attack on the rights being enjoyed by sarpanches.