Baragudha Panchayat Samiti elects new Chairman, Vice-Chairperson

On Thursday, elections for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman positions of the Baragudha Panchayat Samiti were held peacefully under the supervision of Kalanwali SDM Suresh Ravish. The election took place at the Block Development and Panchayat Officer’s office in Baragudha. While the Chairman was elected by consensus, the Vice-Chairman’s position was decided through voting.

Kulwant Kaur was elected new Chairman. For the post of Vice-Chairman, a vote was held between former Vice-Chairman Gurdev Singh Gudar and ex-Sarpanch Angrej Singh Sahuwala. During the voting, Angrej Singh won with 16 votes, while Gurdev Singh only received six votes. The new leaders were congratulated by Panchayat Samiti members and supporters, who garlanded them and shared sweets.

The elections were held following a previous dispute. In December 2024, members of the Panchayat Samiti filed a no-confidence motion against the then-Chairman Manjeet Kaur Sran and Vice-Chairman Gurdev Singh Gudar, accusing them of bias and neglecting development work. As a result, both leaders were removed from their positions.

The conflict began in January 2023 after the elections, when Manjeet Kaur Sran and Gurdev Singh were elected to the top posts. Some members raised complaints about favouritism, claiming that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman drank tea from special cups while the members were given disposable cups. This led to mounting dissatisfaction, and in December 2024, the no-confidence motion was passed.

After their removal, the former leaders claimed political motives behind their ousting. Manjeet Kaur Sran and Gurdev Singh had supported the Congress during the state elections, which led to political tensions with the BJP. Former Vice-Chairman Gurdev Singh stated that their removal was part of a political conspiracy and insisted that no one faced discrimination during his tenure.

With the new leadership in place, the newly elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman promised to work impartially and ensure equal development for all members of the community. The Panchayat Samiti members were optimistic about the fresh start, hoping it would lead to better cooperation and progress in the area.