Uttarakhand panchayat election results: Coin toss, slip draws decide winners on counting day; young voices, folk icons lead surprise wins
With a voter turnout of 69.1%, slightly lower than in 2019, the polls have thrown up several nail-biting finishes, some decided by a single vote, others by coin tosses or lucky draws.
In Kapkot block's gram panchayat Ramadi, a rare tie between candidates Dhana and Nirmala Devi, both securing 63 votes, led to a lucky draw with Nirmala emerging the winner. Another tight contest unfolded in Nainital's Kotabagh block, where the pradhan seat in the reserved Ghuggu Kham panchayat was decided by a coin toss.
Both Nitin Negi and Lakshmi Devi received 43 votes each, and the toss favoured Negi. In Almora's Salt block, Rajni Devi won Chahaj panchayat seat by just one vote.
Several young faces also made an impression. In Tehri's Jaunpur block, 21-year-old Priyanka Negi, a BA second-year student, won the pradhan post from Ganoli. In Nainital's Ramgarh block, 22-year-old Sakshi, pursuing an MA in political science, won the Block Development Committee (BDC) seat from Nathuakhan, defeating her nearest rival by 85 votes.
In Almora's Salt block, Mamta Rautela, a BEd graduate, won the BDC seat from Thaukedar, securing 337 votes.
Lakshman Kumar, popularly known as Lachhu Pahadi, became the state's shortest elected panchayat member after winning the BDC seat from Garhkhet in Bageshwar district. At 26, and standing three-and-a-half-feet tall, he secured 348 votes, ahead of Kailash Ram with 230, Pappu Lal with 227 and Pratap Ram with 181.
Known for his work in Kumaoni theatre and cinema, Lachhu campaigned on horseback and connected with voters through folk performances and door-to-door visits.
"My height may be short, but my courage and dreams are big. I will be the voice of every corner of my area," he said.
Family political legacies were also on display. Deepika, daughter of Didihat MLA Bisan Singh Chufal, won from Bharkatiya in Pithoragarh. In Almora's Salt block, Kavita Devi defeated YouTuber Deepa Negi to win the pradhan seat.
In Pauri's Pokhra block, Arvind, son of senior Congress leader Shoorveer Singh Sajwan, was elected pradhan from Chadiyaara panchayat.
Other notable winners include Deepika Vohra, who won the BDC seat from Chhana Pande, and Sunita Joshi, elected from Patan Patni panchayat in Pithoragarh.
While the final results are still coming in, early trends suggest a strong mix of youth, grassroots connect, legacy and luck shaping this round of panchayat elections.
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Time of India
01-08-2025
- Time of India
Uttarakhand panchayat election results: Coin toss, slip draws decide winners on counting day; young voices, folk icons lead surprise wins
DEHRADUN: Counting of votes for the three-tier panchayat elections held across 89 development blocks in 12 districts, excluding Haridwar, began Thursday and is still underway. With a voter turnout of 69.1%, slightly lower than in 2019, the polls have thrown up several nail-biting finishes, some decided by a single vote, others by coin tosses or lucky draws. In Kapkot block's gram panchayat Ramadi, a rare tie between candidates Dhana and Nirmala Devi, both securing 63 votes, led to a lucky draw with Nirmala emerging the winner. Another tight contest unfolded in Nainital's Kotabagh block, where the pradhan seat in the reserved Ghuggu Kham panchayat was decided by a coin toss. Both Nitin Negi and Lakshmi Devi received 43 votes each, and the toss favoured Negi. In Almora's Salt block, Rajni Devi won Chahaj panchayat seat by just one vote. Several young faces also made an impression. In Tehri's Jaunpur block, 21-year-old Priyanka Negi, a BA second-year student, won the pradhan post from Ganoli. In Nainital's Ramgarh block, 22-year-old Sakshi, pursuing an MA in political science, won the Block Development Committee (BDC) seat from Nathuakhan, defeating her nearest rival by 85 votes. In Almora's Salt block, Mamta Rautela, a BEd graduate, won the BDC seat from Thaukedar, securing 337 votes. Lakshman Kumar, popularly known as Lachhu Pahadi, became the state's shortest elected panchayat member after winning the BDC seat from Garhkhet in Bageshwar district. At 26, and standing three-and-a-half-feet tall, he secured 348 votes, ahead of Kailash Ram with 230, Pappu Lal with 227 and Pratap Ram with 181. Known for his work in Kumaoni theatre and cinema, Lachhu campaigned on horseback and connected with voters through folk performances and door-to-door visits. "My height may be short, but my courage and dreams are big. I will be the voice of every corner of my area," he said. Family political legacies were also on display. Deepika, daughter of Didihat MLA Bisan Singh Chufal, won from Bharkatiya in Pithoragarh. In Almora's Salt block, Kavita Devi defeated YouTuber Deepa Negi to win the pradhan seat. In Pauri's Pokhra block, Arvind, son of senior Congress leader Shoorveer Singh Sajwan, was elected pradhan from Chadiyaara panchayat. Other notable winners include Deepika Vohra, who won the BDC seat from Chhana Pande, and Sunita Joshi, elected from Patan Patni panchayat in Pithoragarh. While the final results are still coming in, early trends suggest a strong mix of youth, grassroots connect, legacy and luck shaping this round of panchayat elections.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
Panchayat polls: P'garh family extends winning streak since '80s, now 2 elected unopposed
Pithoragarh: In Uttarakhand's Rith Raitali village, one family has held sway over the panchayat for more than four decades, long before the state itself came into being. With Nisha Dhariyal and Janki Dhariyal elected unopposed this year as gram pradhan and block development committee (BDC) member respectively, the Dhariyal family's hold on local governance continues unshaken. It began with Bala Datt Dhariyal, who served as gram pradhan from 1980 to 2008 in the village of 800 in Pithoragarh district's Berinag block. In 2008, his wife Ambica Dhariyal took over the post, while their daughter-in-law Janki was elected BDC member. Ambica continued till 2014, when the seat was reserved for Scheduled Castes. The family regained the post in 2019, when Nisha Dhariyal, also Bala Datt's daughter-in-law, was elected gram pradhan. This year, with no other nominations, she was elected unopposed, becoming pradhan once again. Villagers credit the family's enduring influence to their consistent work. "The Dhariyal family continuously works for the village, so people trust them," said resident Pradeep Mahara. "After 2003, the village got road connectivity and a high school. This family solved all our problems," he added. Elsewhere in the district, Tulsi Bathwal from Kotudi village in Munsyari block has also been elected unopposed as gram pradhan for the second time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo Though the seat is unreserved, she was the only one to file a nomination. Tulsi gained support after leading a successful campaign to ban liquor sales in the village, said resident Sunder Bathwal. "She worked with ASHA workers, anganwadi staff, gram prahari, and mid-day meal workers to make it happen," he said. Tulsi also imposed fines on those consuming or distributing liquor, collecting up to Rs 10,000 from violators, he added. Voting for the three-tier panchayat elections in the state will take place in two phases, on July 24 and 28, across 12 districts, excluding Haridwar. Nominations closed on July 5, scrutiny will be conducted from July 7 to 9, and withdrawals can be made between July 10 and 11. Counting is scheduled for July 31.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Delay in Panchayat polls blocking devp funds: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference
All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), an apex body of sarpanches and panches on Monday expressed concern over the prolonged delay in holding panchayat polls in the union territory, while pointing out that more than a year has passed since the dissolution of panchayats on January 9, 2024. In an appeal to the UT administration, AJKPC president Anil Sharma, during a press conference, called for an immediate action to restore grassroots democracy and unlock developmental funds meant for rural areas. Sharma said that failure to conduct elections within one year of dissolution has resulted in blockage of funds meant for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). These funds, he stressed, are vital for the execution of key development projects across rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir. 'We had hoped that once assembly elections were conducted in Jammu and Kashmir, the panchayat polls would follow. Unfortunately, that has not happened,' the leader said. He regretted that rural development has been severely impacted due to the absence of elected panchayat bodies. Projects related to roads, electricity, drinking water supply, and ration distribution have reportedly slowed down or come to a complete halt in many areas. He also reminded the government of its longstanding demand for the establishment of a state election commission (SEC) that is independent of political influence and capable of conducting elections on time. 'We fought for the establishment of a SEC so that the people are not dependent on political parties for the conduct of elections. However things are not moving in right directions as elections are getting delayed,' the AJKPC leader said. He has urged the administration to not delay further, and to set a clear timeline for both panchayat and block development council (BDC) elections. The delay, they warned, is not only a setback to democratic governance, but also a major roadblock to rural development and delivery of essential services. The AJKPC leader has said that the dissolution of Panchayats, and the delay in fresh elections, has left a democratic vacuum at the village level. 'Elections are not a formality—they are a necessity. Without them, rural governance is paralysed, and the common man suffers,' he said.
