No health centre, voters to boycott PRI elections

Dinesh Kanwar

Hamirpur, January 7

Voters in Chakmoh gram panchayat have decided to boycott elections to the Panchyati Raj Institutions.

All candidates for the posts of president, vice-president and ward member withdrew their nomination papers on the last day for the withdrawal of papers yesterday.

This is learnt that people of the panchayat were annoyed over long delay in the construction of a health centre despite repeated assurances by the government.

Now 2,973 candidates were left in fray for PRI elections in the district.

As many as 34 persons had filed nominations for gram panchayat elections. Eight nominees had filed papers for president, 11 for vice-president and 15 for seven wards member.

All of them had withdrawn their nominations. Hence, there would be no polling for the gram panchayat election in the panchayat though people may vote for members block development committee and zila parishad.

Somdutt, a trustee of Baba Balak Nath Trust and voter of GP Chakmoh, said that the villagers had donated over 12 kanals of land for construction of 100-bed hospital here in 1990 when Shanta Kumar was Chief Minister. He said that over 30 years had elapsed, but even foundation stone of the health centre was not laid despite repeated assurances. People had decided not to participate in elections till their demand was not met.

Devashveta Banik, DC, said the administration would look into the reasons behind the boycott decision of the panchayat. She said there was provision for bye-election in such situations. The election commission’s guidelines would be adhered to in this case.

Villagers annoyed

People of the panchayat were annoyed over long delay in the construction of a health centre despite repeated assurances by the government