FORGED CONSENSUS

State governments offering financial incentives to make panchayats forego voting and elect candidates by consensus could have unfavourable consequences for India's local self-governance.

- RAJU SAJWAN reports from GUJARAT and MADHYA PRADESH

On September 27, 2023, Ukarda village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district celebrated. The village used to be a part of the adjacent Hasanpura village panchayat but the state government had elevated its status to have a panchayat of its own—a decision the residents had long waited to be able to vote and have a local self-government—the lowest administrative unit in India's three-tier governance structure.

A panchayat by consensus...

On September 27, 2023, Ukarda village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district celebrated. The village used to be a part of the adjacent Hasanpura village panchayat but the state government had elevated its status to have a panchayat of its own—a decision the residents had long waited to be able to vote and have a local self-government—the lowest administrative unit in India's three-tier governance structure. Soon, elections for the positions of sarpanch—head of village panchayat, and nine panchayat members (panch) were declared. However, the state government also simultaneously initiated efforts to implement its Samras Gram Yojana, under which the village panchayat gets a financial incentive if it chooses its representatives through consensus and not by ballot. On June 25, 2025, Pushpa Ben became Ukarda's unanimously elected sarpanch. The nine members of the panchayat were also elected by consensus. The village did not see campaigning, solicitations for votes through electoral promises or casting of votes.