The picture of three-tier Panchayat-Nagara Sabha elections in Kerala, scheduled for December 9 and 11 th, has emerged as the deadline for withdrawing nomination papers is now over. A total of 72,005 candidates are contesting for 23,576 wards in the state’s total 1,199 Zilla Panchayats, Block Panchayats, Gram Panchayats, Corporations and Municipal Councils, with the exception of Mattanur Municipality; there are 37786 women and 34218 men alongside one transgender. The final count is again subject to change. Local elections are usually tend to be more intense than the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. One reason is it gives ordinary citizens an opportunity to test their luck. Another reason is the outcome of the local elections could come to bear significantly upon the legislative elections in Kerala due within six months. Therefore, the LDF looking for a third term, the UDF, sitting in the opposition for ten consecutive years, and the NDA, which is struggling to overcome the ignominy having no members in the assembly despite in power at the Centre and 20 states, are all squared off for the fight. The votes and representation gained in the local polls are considered to be the first criterion to measure popularity.
The widespread threat of dissidents has become more challenging this time round for alliances in the local polls. The dissidents who are not yet ready to step down have become a headache for three alliances at the state capital. The LDF and the UDF have five candidates each running against the official candidates. In the BJP, a suicide in the name of denying seat was reported. The general situation is that there is no district or front having not faced with the threat of dissidents in nagara sabha or panchyats. In the Edapatta panchayat in Malappuram district, Congress leaders and office bearers, including the UDF chairman, have resigned from the party, expressing dissatisfaction over choice of candidates. There is no dearth of those who cross over to the opposition parties. In one incident in Panur in Kannur district a local leader of Muslim League joined the BJP. It is clear that ideology or difference in political views never come in the way of turncoats. Dissatisfaction with not getting positions, lust for power, and personal animosity are the reasons for suddenly breaking away from the party that one long worked with. It makes no sense insisting against defection, back-stabbing taking place at local level when they are commonplace at the national level. However, examining the history and goals of Panchayat Raj will reveal that the root cause of this situation is over politicization.The driving force of Panchayat Raj is the freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi, who constantly reminded us that India lives in the villages.
At a missionary conference held in Madras in February 1916, he first put forward the need to revive the political and cultural heritage of the Panchayats, according to history. The guiding principles of the Constitution also state that ‘States shall take necessary steps to organize Gram Panchayats and shall provide them with the necessary powers to function as self-governing bodies.’ The Balwant Rai Mehta Committee Report of 1958 pointed out that three-tier panchayats are essential for effective social development and democratic decentralization. The 64th Amendment Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1989, was aimed to give the Panchayat Raj the Constitutional status. However, it was not until 1993 it was reintroduced as the 73rd Amendment Bill and the parliament gave nod to implement it. The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act of 1994, aiming at decentralization of power, stipulated that the Panchayats should be given the necessary powers to function as self-governing bodies. The general nature of these regulations is that the three-tier panchayats should be formed and functioning beyond party politics. Even if it is decidedly not going to happen in the current circumstances, it should be seriously considered whether over politicization could engulf institutions ranging from village panchayats to district panchayats. The goal can be achieved only if political parties are determined to transform three-tier panchayats as means to ensure the livelihood of all sections of the people, resolving public problems, and enabling development, regardless of caste, religion, or class. It cannot be denied Panchayat Raj has now deteriorated into the training ground for the party politics. Hence, dissident factor is assailing the parties like an epidemic.