Aspirants intensify lobbying for posts

 Vikarabad: As the new Panchayat Raj Act enables panchayats to elect three co-option members, aspirants have started lobbying hard to grab the opportunity. The State government had enacted a new Panchayat Raj Act to make all-round development of villages. The government framed the Act in such a way that co-option members would be elected along with sarpanch, vice sarpanch and ward members in the new panchayat. Co-option members would get the status of ward member. As advised by the government, retired employees, NRIs, senior citizens and those who worked for the development of the village would get the opportunity of being a co-option member.

In order to enhance the involvement of people in the panchayats, the government amended the Panchayat Act and gave opportunity to elect three co-option members. The government has given the responsibility of cleanliness, environment, and development of villages to the administration of panchayats.
Aspirants and party workers are running behind leaders to nominate them as co-option members. As it confers the status of ward member, local party cadre is lobbying hard with MLAs and high command.

As many as 1,695 co-option members would get elected in 565 panchayats of the district. Elections have been conducted in 490 villages while 75 panchayats have been elected unanimously. TRS supported candidates grabbed 331 sarpanches while Congress 161, BJP 6, TDP 2, CPI 1 and independent candidates got 64 panchayats.

As notification for the co-option members is round the corner, aspirants have intensified their efforts. Co-option members get ward member status, but they don’t get right to vote. The guidelines for the election of co-option members have not been finalized till date but aspirants are trying hard to get themselves nominated. It is learned that chances of getting elected as co-option member are high for the candidates whose party is in power in the panchayat.