Candid Notes

Friday, 11 July 2025 | Gajendra Singh Negi

Panchayat politics

Utter lack of interest was shown by the rural population for the position of village Panchayat member in the ongoing process of three-tier Panchayat elections as about half of these positions have remained vacant at the end of the nomination process.  This highlights the blight of rural democracy and its institutions. On the other hand three to five times more candidates have filed nominations compared to the available seats on the lucrative positions of Pradhan, member, block Panchayat and member, district Panchayat. The lack of interest for the most basic position of district Panchayat member or ward member does not augur well for the grassroots democracy since these positions are key for functioning of the village Panchayats and preparing their development plans. After the conclusion of the election process, the State Election Commission will hold reelections for filling vacant positions in the three-tier Panchayat bodies in 12 districts of the State in which the elected Pradhans, in order to get the quorum of Village Panchayat complete, will nominate their ‘Yes-Men’ which will effectively rule out any worthy and healthy discussion in the Panchayats.

Safari shocker

 By participating in a jungle safari in the Corbett Tiger Reserve, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami purportedly wanted to have an experience of the wildlife, the activities of the Forest department and express his concern for the environmental conservation and safety and security of wildlife. However, the safari turned out to be a breach in his own security. A day after the CM’s much publicised tour a shocking disclosure revealed that the vehicle (Gypsy) used in the jungle safari of the CM had not undergone fitness check since 2020. The incident not only exposes the lacunae in the functioning of the department assigned with the task of safeguarding enormous, exquisite and varied forest wealth of the State but also puts up a question mark on those responsible for CM’s security. The Forest department, its officers and their working style has always met with skepticism by the general public and it is no wonder that recent incidents of voluntary retirement of PCCF Dhananjai Mohan- considered to be an upright and highly efficient officer- and the safari fiasco in CTR have further buttressed the perception that all is not well in the Forest department of the State.

Congress’ confusion

After the reinstatement of Mahendra Bhatt on the coveted post of president of Uttarakhand BJP, the Congress high command is now under pressure to take a call on the issue of leadership of the party in the Himalayan State. The coronation of Bhatt on party president’s chair has made it clear that the saffron party will contest the crucial 2027 Assembly election under the leadership of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and State president Bhatt. Dhami- Bhatt Jodi fits into the time tested Garhwal- Kumaon and Rajput- Brahmin political narratives and is in sync with the plans of the party and that of CM Dhami. The Congress on the other hand needs to quickly get its act together if it wants to throw a real challenge to the BJP in 2027 but it appears that Uttarakhand is not on the priority of the Congress high command. The apparent indifference of the State party in-charge Kumari Selja in the party affairs and the internal bickering within the State unit of the party have made things difficult for the party in which a section is in favour of extending the tenure of incumbent Karan Mahara on the post of PCC president while another wants a change at the helm of party affairs in the State.