Uttar Pradesh govt proposes Centre to hold panchayat polls directly

At present, the district Panchayat chairperson and Block Pramukh were being elected indirectly from the elected members, which promotes corruption and horse trading.

According to official sources here, the state Panchayati Raj department has sent a proposal to the Centre for amendment in the Constitution to change the format on the election of the District Panchayat chairperson and Block Pramukh directly by the people.

Sources said that the government wants to end horse-trading and other corruption prevail during the election of the District Panchayat chairperson and Block Pramukhs as just a handful of members elect them.

"If the proposal gets nod from the Centre by amendment in the Panchayati Raj system, then the electorate will get the opportunity to elect the district panchayat chairperson and Block Pramukhs like they do to elect the gram pradhans," the source further said.

The UP government was hoping that the amendment to the Constitution could be done during the coming monsoon session of the Parliament then it could be enforced in the coming panchayat polls in the state, which has already been delayed for around six months from the stipulated time by December.

Meanwhile, the state government was also considering making minimum education a must for the panchayat candidates besides two child norms could also be adopted for the candidates contesting the polls.