Setback for Uddhav? 9,000 villages slam pitch to scrap Fadnavis-era direct election model

Maha Vikas Aghi government’s proposal to scrap direct election for Sarpanch’s post has drawn flak from more than 9,000 Gram Panchayats. y have commended model introduced by previous Devendra Fnavis government. However, it remains to be seen wher Maharashtra government would heed counsel of vills or go ahe with its proposal. This comes at a juncture when Maha Vikas Aghi is mulling reverting to ward system in civic bodies.  

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Maha Vikas Aghi's angst with direct election model

Originally, system of direct election for Sarpanch’s post was introduced in 2006 during Congress-NCP regime. However, this led to a situation where Sarpanch was from one party and elected members belonged to a different party altoger. As development suffered in process due to a clash of interests, direct election system was scrapped.  

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situation changed dramatically after BJP government came to power in 2014. First, it revived system of direct elections to post of president in Municipal Councils. This was followed by decision to allow Sarpanch to be directly elected. Subsequently, re was growing unease in NCP and Congress as y were slowly losing power in Gram Panchayats to BJP.  

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Overturning major policy decisions

Since assuming office, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has sought to overturn major policy decisions of Fnavis regime. For instance, he immediately halted construction of Mumbai Metro 3 car shed in Aarey area. Recently, Ashwini Bhide- bureaucrat heing this project was transferred. Moreover, funding to Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan has also been stopped. ditionally, multiple ministers of Maharashtra government hinted at reviewing cases filed against arrested activists in Elgar Parish case. But this attempt was shortlived as Centre transferred Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parish cases to NIA. 

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