The demand to conduct elections of chairman and vice-chairman of panchayat samitis and zila parishad on the lines of gram panchayats has started gaining momentum just around two months before the upcoming elections of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) in the state.

In the three-tier system of the PRIs, which includes gram panchayats, the rural electorate elects their pradhans and up-pradhans directly by exercising their franchise along with other ward members (panches) of the panchayat.

But in panchayat samitis and zila parishad, the electorate elects members (delegates) of these democratic institutions. After getting elected, these delegates further elect unanimously or with voting their chairman and vice-chairman. Similar election pattern is used in Municipal Councils and Nagar Pancha

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