In an unusual and unprecedented move, a bizarre bidding war has broken out in Gurdaspur district’s Hardowal Kalan village as the panchayat elections approach. The village, part of the Dera Baba Nanak assembly constituency, has seen a practice emerge where aspiring sarpanch candidates bid to secure the position, not through traditional electoral votes, but by offering substantial sums of money to be spent on the village’s development.
The highest bidder in this unconventional race is BJP leader Atma Singh, who has pledged a whopping Rs two crore for the coveted role of sarpanch (village head). With panchayat elections scheduled for October 15, this unusual method of selection has stirred a mix of surprise, criticism, and curiosity across the political landscape of Punjab.
Atma Singh, currently leading the race, has openly admitted to offering the Rs two crore bid, claiming that the amount will be entirely used for the development of Hardowal Kalan village. According to Singh, this bid will be in addition to the government’s standard panchayat grant, creating a separate pool of resources aimed at improving village infrastructure, education, and public welfare.
“The entire village assembly is behind this decision. It’s better to bid for development than to pay politicians to rig elections,” said Singh, justifying the ongoing competition. He further said that the village committee, comprising its youth, would decide how the funds are spent, ensuring transparency and alignment with the villagers’ needs.
The bidding process, which was announced through the village’s Gurudwara, is set to continue until a final decision is made. So far, three contenders, including Singh, Jaswinder Singh Bedi, and Nirbhair Singh, are in the running. While Singh’s Rs two crore bid is the highest, there is speculation that it could go even higher as the deadline approaches.
This bizarre form of selecting a sarpanch has raised eyebrows not only in Punjab but also among political observers nationwide. Traditionally, sarpanch elections are held democratically, with candidates vying for votes from fellow villagers. The introduction of a bidding system turns the election process into a financial contest, undermining the very principles of democratic elections.
Local sources have confirmed that such a bidding system has never been used in the village’s history. While some villagers have expressed support for the idea, seeing it as a way to bypass corrupt practices in elections, others, including political leaders and legal experts, have voiced strong opposition.
Opposition leaders and critics have slammed the bidding process, labeling it as a form of “open corruption”. Senior Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Pratap Singh Bajwa called for the Vigilance Department to take immediate action. “This is not a cattle market. This is open corruption, and the government should immediately intervene,” said Bajwa, demanding that those involved in the bidding war be arrested.
Legal Eagles maintained that there is no provision in the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act for such a process. “The Act clearly specifies elections, not selections based on bids. Every villager has the right to contest and vote in these elections. This practice violates the fundamental principles of democracy and could lead to human rights violations,” Sidhu argued.
Within Hardowal Kalan itself, reactions to the bidding system are mixed. While some villagers believe that this process ensures that the sarpanch will be financially invested in the development of the village, others are concerned that it sidelines the voice of the common people in the electoral process.
“The bidding war shows that people with deep pockets can buy their way into power. How is this different from any other form of corruption? This shouldn’t be happening,” said Satnam Singh, a local activist, adding that he plans to write to the State Election Commission to halt the practice.
On the other hand, the village’s youth assembly, which oversees the process, has argued that this method ensures direct financial investment into the village’s growth. “We’ve seen elected leaders make promises and disappear after winning. This way, we guarantee that money comes into the village," said a member of the committee.
As the October 15 elections near, questions about the legality and ethics of the bidding process remain unanswered. Political analysts fear that if this method goes unchallenged, it could set a troubling precedent for future elections, where power could be bought rather than earned through democratic processes.
