Panchayat polls: Former minister elected unopposed as Panch

A former Rajasthan minister has been elected unopposed as the Panch (member) of Kundanpur Gram Panchayat.
Bharat Singh, a senior Congress leader and former minister of state for Panchayati Raj and Public Works, was elected unopposed for the post yesterday.
"Since no other nomination was received till 11 AM yesterday, Meena Kanwar was declared as Sarpanch and Bharat Singh and 10 other persons were declared as members (Panch) of Kundanpur grampanchayat," Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Sangod tehsil Ambalal Meena of Sangod tehsil said.
The sarpanch seat of the gram panchayat was reserved for a woman while Singh was elected from Ward no 8, he said.

Singh, who was also the Sarpanch of the same gram panchyat from 1977 to 1981, today said, "What I could deliver to the people as Sarpanch, I found restricted as a minister for the same."
"I am excited to have the opportunity to work for people after losing the Assembly poll. One can directly deliver and implement from the grass-roots level," the three-time MLA said.

Meanwhile, local BJP MLA Heeralal Nagar raised objection over the unanimous election of Bharat Singh and his wife Meena Kanwar and said he had complained about the matter.
"I have complained to the state election commissioner and also district election officer of Kota against the election of Bharat Singh and his wife," Nagar said.

However, Singh rubbished these allegations.
Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls are held on political parties' symbols, while Sarpanch and Panch polls on non-political basis.
The last and third phase of panchayat elections will be held on February 1.
Counting of votes will be held on February 5.