North News
Chandigarh, November 7
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is set to administer the oath of office to more than 10,000 newly elected Sarpanches in a ceremony at Cycle Valley of Village Dhanansoo in Ludhiana on Friday. This is the first of its kind function organized by the state government, in which former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be the Chief guest, to strengthen democracy at grassroots level as Panchayats are known as the ‘pillars of democracy’.
The state government announced that 10,031 Sarpanches from 19 districts will take their oath during the event, part of a total of 13,147 elected Sarpanches across 23 districts in Punjab. The oath-taking for Sarpanches from the remaining four districts—Sri Muktsar Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Barnala, and Gurdaspur—will occur after by-elections in four Vidhan Sabha constituencies. Additionally, 81,808 newly elected Panches will also take the oath at a later date.
In preparation for the large-scale event, the Chief Minister emphasized that extensive arrangements have been made, including traffic management and public facilities, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for attendees.
The official statement said that the state government has also set a new standard for fair and transparent Panchayat elections, which were held without party symbols to prevent village-level groupism. This reform is aimed at fostering harmonious development in rural areas. The initiative also saw a positive response, with 3,037 panchayats, including those from Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran, electing their leaders unanimously.
