Panchayat reforms: If found guilty, no elections for mukhiyas for 12 years Patna: recent reports emerging from the government circles in Patna suggest that the government is getting ready to put in place stringent measures for controlling ‘misrule’ by the mukhiyas and sarpanchs.  The Panchayati Raj Task Force has a number of recommendations on the matter – if found guilty, the candidates will not be able to fight elections for the next 12 years. Currently, the operative limit is 6 years. The argument of the Task Force is that powerful people are able to fix up dummy candidates such... 

How many mukhiyas get re-elected? the most vital question! Patna: early reports indicate that over 75% of selected panchayat candidates have failed to get re-elected in Bihar. This is yet to be conformed by the final data. But this remains the most vital question today. Unlike the legislative elections, the panchayat candidates in Bihar depend solely on their individual image and actions rather than party affiliations. If the public image of mukhiyas in Bihar is as tainted as it is made out to be, one would expect that if at all the Bihar panchayat voters are a mature lot, a very large percentage... 

Fifth phase of panchayat election passes off peacefully: but with 923 arrests Patna: according to reports, although the fifth phase of panchayat elections passed off peacefully in 51 blocks of the 37 districts of Bihar, around 923 arrests were made in the election areas. During this phase, votes were cast at 11,604 polling booth by a total of 49, 55,704 voters. The overall polling percentage was 62.6 – Katihar recorded maximum percentage of 73 and Gaya recorded the minimum at 53. During the fifth phase, 250 vehicles and cash of Rs 2,00,450 was seized. Among the prominent incidents –... 

कड़ी सुरक्षा व्यवस्था के बीच तीसरे चरण के पंचायत चुनाव की मतदान शुरू महिलाएं जम के मतदान प्रक्रिया में हिस्सा ले रही है कड़ी सुरक्षा व्यवस्था के बीच आज पंचायतचुनाव के तीसरे चरण में 37 जिलों के 54 प्रखंडों की 875 ग्राम पंचायतों में मतदान... 

First phase panchayat elections in Bihar turn out peaceful! Patna: despite apprehensions, the first phase of the Bihar panchayat polls held amidst tight security today has turned out to be largely peaceful. Polling is being held at 12905 booths spread over 37 districts for 28,639 posts of village chief, sarpanchs, gram panchayat members, gram kutchery panch, panchayat samiti members and district board members. There are 1.43 lakh candidates in the fray. People queued up at polling booths despite a boycott call by Maoists. Director General of Police Neelmani said that polling was peaceful... 

Three lakh women candidates contesting panchayat polls in Bihar Panchayati Raj: Women's empowerment! Patna: according to reports in the press, almost three lakh women candidates are to contest the 10-phase panchayat polls in Bihar starting tomorrow. This is a direct consequence of the fact that in 2006, Bihar became the first state in India to reserve for women 50 percent seats in panchayats, providing a rare opportunity to nearly half of the state’s 10.38 crore population to empower itself. According to an official of the state election commission nearly three lakh women are... 

Dates for Panchayat polls in Bihar announced Ballot boxes to be used instead of EVMs... Dates for Panchayat elections in Bihar have now been announced. Starting from April 20th election will be held in 10 phases. Stretching over a month, the Final phase will see voting on 18th May with 23 blocks going for the polls. The notification for the elections will be issued on 21st February. The point to be noted here is Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will not be used in these elections. As announced earlier, elections will not be organised on party lines. The details for different phases and the number...