08-07-2025
Panchayat polls: P'garh family extends winning streak since '80s, now 2 elected unopposed
Pithoragarh: In Uttarakhand's Rith Raitali village, one family has held sway over the panchayat for more than four decades, long before the state itself came into being. With Nisha Dhariyal and Janki Dhariyal elected unopposed this year as gram pradhan and block development committee (BDC) member respectively, the Dhariyal family's hold on local governance continues unshaken.
It began with Bala Datt Dhariyal, who served as gram pradhan from 1980 to 2008 in the village of 800 in Pithoragarh district's Berinag block. In 2008, his wife Ambica Dhariyal took over the post, while their daughter-in-law Janki was elected BDC member. Ambica continued till 2014, when the seat was reserved for Scheduled Castes.
The family regained the post in 2019, when Nisha Dhariyal, also Bala Datt's daughter-in-law, was elected gram pradhan.
This year, with no other nominations, she was elected unopposed, becoming pradhan once again.
Villagers credit the family's enduring influence to their consistent work. "The Dhariyal family continuously works for the village, so people trust them," said resident Pradeep Mahara. "After 2003, the village got road connectivity and a high school. This family solved all our problems," he added.
Elsewhere in the district, Tulsi Bathwal from Kotudi village in Munsyari block has also been elected unopposed as gram pradhan for the second time.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Though the seat is unreserved, she was the only one to file a nomination.
Tulsi gained support after leading a successful campaign to ban liquor sales in the village, said resident Sunder Bathwal. "She worked with ASHA workers, anganwadi staff, gram prahari, and mid-day meal workers to make it happen," he said. Tulsi also imposed fines on those consuming or distributing liquor, collecting up to Rs 10,000 from violators, he added.
Voting for the three-tier panchayat elections in the state will take place in two phases, on July 24 and 28, across 12 districts, excluding Haridwar. Nominations closed on July 5, scrutiny will be conducted from July 7 to 9, and withdrawals can be made between July 10 and 11. Counting is scheduled for July 31.
