Re-election ordered in Nainital by HC
By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 14 Aug: The elections for district panchayat chairpersons and block pramukhs across Uttarakhand concluded today, with results being declared through the day. The polling began at 10 a.m. to decide the fate of 12 district panchayats and 89 blocks. The results have come as a setback for the BJP specifically in Dehradun which is considered to be its bastion. While the Bharatiya Janata Party has already secured five district panchayat chairman seats and 17 block pramukh positions unopposed, today’s voting determined the remaining six district panchayat chairman seats and 84 block pramukh posts. Overall, BJP’s authorised candidates have won 10 out of 11 seats, while Congress has won one seat.
The elections, held in all districts except Haridwar, were conducted in two phases on 24 and 28 July, with counting on 31 July. Very importantly, the election on Nainital seat has been postponed for the time being on the instructions of the High Court. Re-voting will be held on 18 August.
In a significant win for the Congress in Dehradun, Sukhwinder Kaur was elected District Panchayat Chairman, defeating BJP’s Madhu Chauhan, wife of MLA Munna Singh Chauhan and the outgoing chairman. Kaur secured 17 votes against Chauhan’s 13. Congress also bagged the vice-chairman’s post, with Abhishek Singh, son of Congress MLA Pritam Singh, defeating BJP’s Bir Singh Chauhan by 18 votes to 12. Former Congress district president Gaurav Chaudhary was elected Block Pramukh of Doiwala, receiving 27 votes against BJP’s Manju Negi, who got 13. Congress backed Dhunveer Vedwal and Bina Chauhan won the Senior and Junior Block Pramukh posts with 27 and 28 votes, respectively.
In Dehradun district, Block Panchayat presidents elected today are Asha from Chakrata, Gaurav from Doiwala, Savitri Devi Chauhan from Kalsi, Narayan Singh from Vikasnagar, Archana Rawat from Sahaspur and Sarojini Devi from Raipur.
In Tehri, BJP’s Ishita Sajwan had already been elected District Panchayat Chairman unopposed, but the party lost the vice-chairman post to Congress’s Man Singh Rautela, who secured 26 votes against BJP’s Hukum Singh’s 15. Congress workers celebrated the victory with enthusiasm. In Bhilangana block, BJP’s Rajiv Kandari was elected Block Pramukh with 28 votes, defeating independent candidate Rajendra Bisht who received 12. Pyar Singh Bisht won the Senior Pramukh post with 18 votes, while Krishna Devi secured the Junior Pramukh post with 17 votes.
In Pratapnagar and Narendranagar, BJP’s Manisha Panwar and Diksha Rana were elected Block Pramukhs. In Rudraprayag, BJP’s Poonam Kathait won the District Panchayat Chairman’s post by a single vote. However, Congress candidates Pankaj Shukla and Vinita Chamoli won the Block Pramukh posts in Ukhimath and Jakholi respectively, with Vinita securing 22 votes and Pankaj edging out his rival by one vote.
In Pithoragarh’s Berinag block, independent candidate Sangita defeated BJP’s Neerja by 22 votes to 15 to become Block Pramukh. The Senior Deputy Pramukh post also went to independent Dheeraj Bisht. In Munsiari, Congress’s Kavita Mehar won the Block Pramukh post with 20 votes against BJP’s Pradeep Rawat’s 13, and the party also secured both the Senior and Junior Deputy Pramukh posts.
In Ramnagar, independent candidate Manju Negi, backed by the independents, won the Block Pramukh seat, defeating BJP’s Hansi Jalal. Congress’s Sanjay Negi was elected Deputy Senior Pramukh, while independent Meena Rawat won the Deputy Junior Pramukh post. Victories were celebrated with processions and traditional drums.
In Lohaghat, BJP’s Mahendra Singh Dhek became Block Pramukh with 18 votes, defeating Ankita Bohra who received 16. In Pati, Congress-backed Shankar Singh Adhikari secured a landslide victory with 36 votes, while BJP’s Prakash Singh Bisht managed only four. BJP’s candidate was reportedly poised for victory in Barakote.
In Chakrata block, Congress’s Asha Verma, Fateh Singh Rawat, and Sulochana Rawat were elected to the posts of Block Pramukh, Senior Pramukh, and Junior Pramukh respectively, with 26, 25, and 25 votes. In Garud and Kapkot blocks of Bageshwar, BJP candidates emerged victorious. In Garud, Kishan Singh became Block Pramukh with 33 votes against Devendra Singh’s seven. Nandan Singh was elected Senior Block Pramukh with 32 votes, and Bhagwati secured the Junior Pramukh post with 32 votes. In Bageshwar, Deepa Devi was elected Block Pramukh with 35 votes against Uma Devi’s five. Manish Kumar became Senior Block Pramukh with 33 votes, while Deepa Devi was elected Junior Pramukh unopposed.
In Jharikhal block under the Lansdowne constituency, BJP’s Ranveer Sajwan won with 12 votes. Meanwhile, in Dwarahat, tensions escalated during the block pramukh voting. A late-night commotion over the alleged abduction of BDC members’ husbands flared up again as the final member went to vote. A scuffle broke out, followed by stone-pelting between supporters of both parties. Police were compelled to use force to disperse the crowd and restore order.
In all, the panchayat polls have produced mixed outcomes for both major parties, jubilant celebrations were held in several blocks, and a few tense moments were also witnessed underlining the high stakes of local governance in Uttarakhand.
