Gram panchayat polls to be held under shadow of drought

As many as 703 gram panchayats in Beed district, 220 in Pune, and several in Sangli, Satara, Jalna and Ahmednagar districts fall under the drought-hit talukas.

Even though drought relief measures can be implemented during the election code of conduct, the government was against holding the elections, scheduled for November-December this year, during this period.

However, the tenure of these gram panchayats are coming to an end with the completion of five years and if elections are not held, administrators will have to be appointed.

"From where do we appoint more than 7,500 administrators and it was not possible to delay the elections by a year because due to lack of rains, the drought conditions are likely to continue throughout the year," officials said.