Sarpanch ‘resigns’ but hears about it 4 days later

When the illiterate lady sarpanch of Panjarwadi gram panchayat in Yeola tehsil of Nashik district applied her thumb impression on a bunch of papers about ten days ago, little did she know that it included her resignation letter drafted by her adversaries.

Just four days ago, Draupadi Chhagan Bhagat came to know that the Yeola Panchayat Samiti was processing her resignation. A shocked Draupadi filed a complaint with the block development officer (BDO) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nashik Zilla Parishad (ZP). Draupadi insisted she had not resigned and that it was a conspiracy against her.

Her supporters, Gorakh Ghoderao and Kachru Aher, alleged that her deputy, Upsarpanch Balasaheb Laxman Devre, was behind the exercise. They have demanded an inquiry into the episode and action against the culprits.

CEO of the ZP, Vinita Singhal, confirmed that a complaint had been received and the case was being investigated. ‘‘The woman will continue to be the sarpanch till the matter is investigated and the truth ascertained,’’ she said.