751 gram panchayats in Gujarat declared Samras – won uncontested
Samras are villages where residents choose their ward members and sarpanch with consensus, negating the need to go to polls. Such villages get special benefits from the state government
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Overall, general or mid-term elections will be held in 3,541 gram panchayats on June 22 (Express File)Out of the 4,564 gram panchayats on which elections were announced by the Gujarat State Election Commission (SEC) last month, 751 have become “Samras” or won uncontested. These gram panchayats were those which were either headed for general elections or midterm elections, or which came into existence after divisions of other gram panchayats.
An official release from the SEC on Friday stated that out of the 4,564 gram panchayats, which were scheduled to go to polls, 751 have become “total uncontested”. In other words, they have become Samras under the scheme of the state government in which villagers choose their ward members and sarpanch with consensus and do not go to polls. The villages that become Samras get special benefits from the state government.
The release also stated that in 271 gram panchayats out of the remaining 3,813, elections won’t be held. This is because while some wards are going Samras, others are not witnessing any candidature. Overall, general or mid-term elections will be held in 3,541 gram panchayats on June 22.
On the other hand, the SEC had also announced by-elections in 3,524 gram panchayats last month. However, due to some seats won uncontested and others not witnessing any candidature, the elections will be held in 353 gram panchayats. Voting for the by-elections will also be held on June 22.
Elections will be held for the total posts of 3,656 sarpanch and 16,224 ward members. A total of around 81 lakh voters are expected to cast their votes in the elections.
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