Latest news with #Samras
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
56 Mahila Samras Gram Panchayats emerge in Gujarat, Mehsana tops the list
Out of the total 761 gram panchayats which were declared Samras in the recent elections of over 4,500 gram panchayats, 56 have emerged as Mahila Samras Gram Panchayat, according to a statement from Gujarat government issued on Thursday. Of the 56 such Mahila Samras Gram Panchayats, Mehsana has a maximum of nine followed by Patan (7), Bhavnagar (6), Banaskantha (6) and Vadodara (4), the government added. Samras Gram Panchayat is a scheme of Gujarat government under which villagers choose their ward members and sarpanch with consensus and do not go to polls. If all unopposed ward members and Sarpanch are women, it is known as a Mahila Samaras Gram Panchayat. Those villages which become Samras get special benefits from the state government. The scheme was launched by the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2001. The 56 Mahila Samras Gram Panchayats include Ilampur Gram Panchayat and Chadasana Gram Panchayat in Patan districts. As per the government release, the two gram panchayats have become Mahila Samras Gram Panchayat for the fifth consecutive time. While Ilampur has become Mahila Samras Gram Panchayat for the first time, Chadasana has got the distinction for the second time. Both the gram panchayats will receive a grant of Rs 8.50 lakh each from the state government for development purposes. Both the panchayats have a total of nine members each including the Sarpanch. Quoting Ilampur Sarpanch Kesarben Thakor, the release stated, 'Ilampur, with a population of over 1,100, has never had Panchayat elections since Independence. People here are mostly involved in farming and animal husbandry. With the grant we receive, we are committed to ensuring that the village sees real and lasting development.' Meanwhile, Chadasana Sarpanch Amathiben Desai was quoted as saying, 'Chadasana has a population of 547, where people from all communities live with mutual respect and unity. If the village continues to remain Samaras, peace will prevail and development will continue without disruption.'
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
751 gram panchayats in Gujarat declared Samras
Out of the 4,564 gram panchayats on which elections were announced by the Gujarat State Election Commission (SEC) last month, 751 have become 'Samras' or won uncontested. These gram panchayats were those which were either headed for general elections or midterm elections, or which came into existence after divisions of other gram panchayats. An official release from the SEC on Friday stated that out of the 4,564 gram panchayats, which were scheduled to go to polls, 751 have become 'total uncontested'. In other words, they have become Samras under the scheme of the state government in which villagers choose their ward members and sarpanch with consensus and do not go to polls. The villages that become Samras get special benefits from the state government. The release also stated that in 271 gram panchayats out of the remaining 3,813, elections won't be held. This is because while some wards are going Samras, others are not witnessing any candidature. Overall, general or mid-term elections will be held in 3,541 gram panchayats on June 22. On the other hand, the SEC had also announced by-elections in 3,524 gram panchayats last month. However, due to some seats won uncontested and others not witnessing any candidature, the elections will be held in 353 gram panchayats. Voting for the by-elections will also be held on June 22. Elections will be held for the total posts of 3,656 sarpanch and 16,224 ward members. A total of around 81 lakh voters are expected to cast their votes in the elections.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Several panchayats declared ‘Samras' – won without contest – in Central Gujarat; BJP leaders felicitate winners
On the last day to withdraw nominations for the upcoming elections to gram panchayats across the state, several panchayats in Central Gujarat on Wednesday were declared 'Samras' — won without a formal election or contest. In Vadodara district, the entire panel of Por gram panchayat in Vadodara taluka as well as Vacchesar gram panchayat in Desar taluka were declared Samras while three gram panchayats in Padra taluka also headed the same way, heeding to the 'appeal' from BJP MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala, who had also announced an incentive of Rs 11 lakh from his MLA fund for villages opting for Samras means. Led by Sarpanch Sanjay Vasava, members of the Por gram panchayat, who were declared uncontested winners, celebrated the victory at Vadodara taluka panchayat on Wednesday. Additionally, two out of the 14 wards of Koyali gram panchayat were also declared uncontested winners. Desar Taluka's Vacchesar gram panchayat — a village with a prominently mixed neighbourhood — saw its body being declared uncontested winner on Wednesday, in a first such occurrence. In Padra taluka, three of 49 gram panchayats — Bamanwasi, Nedra and Tajpura — were declared 'samras' as the sarpanch candidate as well as ward candidates were declared uncontested winners. BJP's Zala felicitated the members of the three samras villages in Padra and also handed over the promised letter of Rs 11 lakh incentive. Zala said, 'I had appealed to villages to opt for Samras initiative and even announced that I would hand out a special grant from the MLA fund. Many gram panchayats had shown interest and we are glad that three gram panchayats of Bamanwasi, Nedra and Tajpura opted for the Samras way… I have felicitated the uncontested members and handed over the letter of Rs 11 lakh.' Zala said that Samras panchayats ensure 'no enmity' among villages. He said, 'Samras way of panchayats leads to a unity in the village as there is no ill-feeling or vengeance between villagers… I want to appeal to people, who are contesting the upcoming polls, that they have the right to contest elections but they should follow the law, and not harbour enmity with each other.' In Narmada district, 112 gram panchayats are going to polls out of 238 villages. As many as 765 nomination forms have been filed for 60 posts of sarpanches while 980 nominations have been filed for 532 ward seats. Puchpura, Jalodra and Vajeria gram panchayat of Tilakwada taluka were declared 'samras' as no contestants were found to have filled nominations for the wards. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) felicitated the 'uncontested' winners of Vajeria gram panchayat on Wednesday. In Panchmahal district, seven villages were declared 'Samras', including Navagam, Jodhpur, Hanselav, Bhotwa, and Sagrala. Three of the seven Samras gram panchayats were going to polls for the first time.
