In all the six blocks of Haridwar district, around 9,000 candidates were in fray at 47 seats of Zila panchayat, 318 of Gram panchayat, 211 of Kshetriya Panchayat and other members of Gram Panchayat. In the biggest block of Bahadrabad 2,772 candidates alone were fighting in the battlefield. 50% seats were reserved for women.
With the announcement of the final round of result of Panchayat elections, 318 Gram Pradhan and 211 members of Kshetriya Panchayat were declared. Also with the coming of the final results, ensued the fight for the Zila Panchayat Adhyaksh.
Since BJP has been ousted, now the Congress and BSP party members have started wooing the independent candidates who have won the elections. The 47 members would now select one Zila Panchayat Adhyaksh and the 211 member of BDC will select their own Block Pramukh (head). The results of the Haridwar district Panchayat elections came as a reality check for all political parties. While the ruling Congress party received a jolt as its candidate Rajendra Choudhary and his wife Kusum lost, the BJP could not even attain 10 per cent of the votes. The Congress could win only 12 seats out of the declared 47 seats. Some independent undergraduate women recorded victory over party candidates.
The BSP, which drew a blank during the lok Sabha polls last year, has emerged as a frontrunner in the Zila Panchayat elections bagging 16 seats. Many independent candidates opened their accounts by claiming 16 of the 47 seats and had an upper hand over the ruling party Congress. Babli Chowdhary, aged 34 years who won from Manakpur seat of Bahadrabad block defeated wife of Congress stalwart Rajendra Chowdhary by 2,196 votes. Speaking to The Pioneer, Babli said, “I would work for the welfare of my village block. Choosing me as an independent candidate over the party candidate, people have proved that party backing doesn’t matter, what matters is person’s individual rapport and social works.”
The red-faced BJP this time claimed its position only on 3 seats. It was claimed by the Congress Mahanagar unit president Anshul Shrikunj that the zila panchayat elections in the district will be a litmus test for the party ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections. The State party president Kishore Upadhyay himself had come to the district and had made senior party workers as nodal officers for the Panchayat polls. The state unit head had urged party workers to gear up for the elections at the block and village levels, as the success of the party depended on their hard work. But the net result was that they lost 4 seats to BSP.
BSP winner candidate Preeti Devi from luxor block who is undergoing her BA examination from village Habibpur Kheri sets her priority to get the roads repaired of her village. Speaking to The Pioneer, 25-year-old Soni Chauhan from Banganga seat of Bahadrabad block said, “I am doing graduation from Chandpur Bijonaur district and would work with full honesty for the village people. I will target towards the developmental projects for the district.”