Panchayat Elections in Uttar Pradesh this time have seen unusual candidates jumping into the fray. There are teachers, shopkeepers, businessmen, relatives of politicians and even wives of BSP ministers. Some of them took leave from their normal work and some even sold their properties to take part in the polls. All claim they want to serve their village, block or district, but it is alleged that the lure of money pouring...

The Reserve Bank of India has agreed to Jharkhand's request for banks having at least one-day-per-week branch in every panchayat to help beneficiaries draw wages under MGNREGA and money under social security schemes, a senior official said here today."The RBI has agreed to our request that banks should make efforts to open at least one-day-per-week branches in panchayats so that withdrawing wages under MGNREGA, (money under) social security and scholarships...

Monday’s polling to Kerala’s first all-tribal panchayat, damalakkudy, in Idukki district would be marked in history for the elborate preparations underway to get a reclusive tribal community to participate in democracy. Edamalakkudy, 38 km from Munnar hill station, has no motorable road, no power or communication network. There are 700-odd families of Muthuvan Scheduled Tribe, which live in small settlements at Edamalakkudy, situated amidst dense forest. To fill the communication gap at the...

Women have rarely held posts of political authority in Kerala. There are, though, processes at play that could alter some things, a sense that big changes are under way. They will account for over 50 per cent of all 21, 682 wards in the 1,209 local bodies going to the polls. A single issue dogs all candidates in the local polls in Guruvayoor municipality of Kerala's Thrissur district. Any of the...

In spite of all the claims made by the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure peaceful elections, violence marked the third phase of polling in the Panchayat Elections. Two persons died on Friday, taking the toll in panchayat poll-related violence to 26. Two others, meanwhile, died after consuming liquor allegedly distributed by a candidate for the post of pradhan in Bijnor district’s Nahtaur. The State Election Commission said by 6 pm nearly...