Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (MS)

Mumbai, Feb 22: In the upcoming budget session, government of Maharashtra is planning to present a bill which will amend the existing law regarding the election of Sarpanchs of villages. The bill will cancel the direct elections for the post of village sarpanch.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi government had a discussion on this in the cabinet meeting that was held last month. After the cabinet approved the bill, the government has now written to the office of the state governor regarding the amended bill which will cancel the decision of the earlier government led by BJP of electing the sarpanchs of villages directly by the voters. It is learnt that the governor's office has asked the government to take a legislative route.

According to the information shared to the press by Hasan Mushrif, Rural Development minister of Maharashtra, a draft to this effect is under process and the same will be introduced in bill form in the first week of the budget session. Hasan also stated that the government wants the sarpanchs to be elected by the elected representatives and not directly by the voters.

In September this year 9,000 gram panchayats will go to polls. The earlier government led by BJP and partnered by Shiv Sena had made an amendment to the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act 1958 according to which any 21-year-old and above is eligible to contest as well as vote for the post of village sarpanch. The bill was amended in spite of strong opposition by the Shiv Sena.

General elections to the panchayat are held in line with the elections of Sarpanchs since 2017 ordinance and also amendment to the law which took place later.