Ferozepur: With record nominations across the state, Ferozepur’s five blocks—Guruharsahai, Mamdot, Ferozepur, Ghall Khurd, Makhu, and Zira— also saw final nominations of 2,869 Sarpanch candidates and 7,750 Panch candidates. Although the upcoming Panchayat elections are slated to be held on October 15, without any party symbols, tensions flared in several areas as major political parties allegedly engaged in backdoor involvement during the nomination and NOC stages.
Breaking it down, the 835 panchayats across these five blocks saw high numbers of candidates filing for office: Guruharsahai received 159 nominations, Mamdot 136, Ferozepur 182, Ghall Khurd 126, Makhu 118, and Zira 114. A total of 3,300 Sarpanch and 8,996 Panch candidates initially filed, though scrutiny resulted in the rejection of 431 Sarpanch and 1,246 Panch nominations, leaving 2,869 Sarpanch and 7,750 Panch candidates in the race.
As a critical component of rural governance, panchayats form the third tier of political influence in India, following the central and state governments. This tier holds significant sway over local development and village-level decision-making.
To ensure smooth and peaceful elections, the State Election Commission has appointed DPS Kharbanda as Election Observer for Ferozepur. Kharbanda closely monitored the nomination scrutiny process and emphasized that the elections would be conducted fairly, transparently, and securely. He also instructed election staff to carry out their duties with promptness and responsibility.
In a preparatory meeting with SSP Soumya Mishra, Kharbanda reviewed security arrangements for the district and encouraged residents to report any election-related grievances to the provided helpline (90418-93299) or email (observergrampanchayat@gmail.com).
Deputy DEO Dr Satinder Singh as Liaison Officer and Secretary Red Cross Ashok Behal, Naib Tehsildar Amandeep Goyal, and Sandeep Katoch were also present, lending their support to ensure a well-organized and orderly election process.