The fact that large number of positions of member Village Panchayat remained vacant, while cut throat contest occurred for other positions of the Panchayati Raj system clearly indicates that power and money are the main motivators for the contestants of the Panchayat elections. To fulfil the constitutional obligation, the State Election Commission (SEC) would hold re-elections for the vacant Village Panchayat position on July 26.
After the elections for the directly elected posts of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in all districts of Uttarakhand barring Haridwar, a staggering 14,966 positions of Member Village Panchayat remained vacant. These positions remained vacant as not even a single candidate remained in electoral fray for these positions due to no nominations, death of candidates and rejection of the nominations. Almora, with 3,034 vacant positions of member Village Panchayat, is at top of the list, while Pauri has 2,740 vacant positions and Nainital has 1,557 such positions. "The SCE had to re-schedule the elections for these vacant positions," the State Election Commissioner Subardhan said that there is a constitutional obligation to fulfil two-third positions in the Panchayati Raj bodies. Along with these positions, the re-elections for 24 positions of Village Pradhans would also be held on July 26 and the results would be declared on July 28.
One candidate who successfully contested the position of Member Block Panchayat from the Ekeshwar block of Pauri Garhwal district told this correspondent that no one wants to become the member Village Panchayat which is the basic position of the Panchayati raj system. He cited lack of power and money for the disinterest shown by people for this position. In the Panchayati Raj system, the position of Pradhan, Block Pramukh and the President District Panchayat are the most sought after. Since the Block Pramukh and President District Panchayat are elected from the member Block Panchayat and member District Panchayat respectively these positions also become important.The aspirants of the Block Pramukh and President District Panchayat spend huge amount of money to woo the limited members of Electoral College in their favour.