Aurangabad, Jan 25:
The career of may established leaders and candidates aspiring to become sarpanchs (in 21-gram panchayats) is at stake after the state government decided to scrap old reservation for the post of sarpanch and declare new one through picking up lots on January 29.
The government's decision forced the village-level office-bearers to change political strategy. The Maha Vikas Aghadi and BJP put in their all efforts to establish their dominance in the gram panchayats that are considered rich in terms of revenue collection.
Many established members like MLA Prashant Bamb (Ranjangaon), Ramesh Gaikwad, Shamim Bi Chaudhary and former sarpanch Shaikh Akhtar (Pandharpur), Ramchandra Kasure (Tisgaon), former sarpanch Naser Patel (Narayanpur) and Dilip Bankar (Ambelohal) won with a majority of votes. An ideal village - Patoda, witnessed a change in power, while the election held unopposed in Wadadgaon GP. There is a triangular fight in Jogeshwari and Waluj GPs. Hence the established political leaders are leaving no opportunity to grab power in them. It has become a prestigious issue for them.
Meanwhile, to avoid any untoward incident like horse-trading during sarpanch's election, the newly elected members (of Jogeshwari and Waluj GPs) are taken on tour to an undisclosed destination. Meanwhile, a tug-of-war is also going on between old and new office-bearers in Ranjangaon, Tisgaon and Pandharpur GPs.
Old reservation
As per old reservation the post of sarpanch was reserved for Scheduled Caste (Female) in Ranjangaon; Scheduled Caste (Gen) in Waluj; OBC (Woman) in Narayanpur; General (Open) in Jogeshwari, Wadadgaon, Pandharpur and Patoda GPs. The new reservations will be declared through lots on January 29.