Jaipur: Political activity has intensified in Rajasthan ahead of the municipal body elections, with villagers of Darda Hind in Tonk Assembly constituency, represented by Congress leader Sachin Pilot, announcing a boycott of the upcoming polls over the village’s inclusion in the Tonk Municipal Council.
Darda Hind, earlier a Gram Panchayat under the Tonk Panchayat Samiti, was brought under the Tonk Municipal Council following the delimitation process. Residents have strongly opposed the move and declared that they will boycott all elections, including the Municipal Council polls, until their demand for restoration of Gram Panchayat status is met.
On Sunday, Tonk SDM and Returning Officer Seema Khetan, along with Tehsildar Ajaypal Yadav, visited Darda Hind to persuade villagers to participate in the electoral process. The officials heard the grievances and urged residents to vote, but the villagers remained firm in their decision and continued raising slogans against the merger. The officials eventually returned without success.
The villagers alleged that since the delimitation, civic and development needs have been neglected. They claimed sanitation conditions have deteriorated, development work has stalled, and basic issues remain unresolved.
Residents said they feared the merger with the Municipal Council could further affect development and harm the agriculture-based economy. Villagers including Shivjiram Choudhary, Rameshwar Prasad and Ramniwas said the council had failed to address problems such as damaged roads and poor sanitation even within Tonk city, questioning its ability to ensure development in a rural, agriculture-dependent village.
Under the delimitation plan, Darda Hind has been included in Ward No. 2 of the Tonk Municipal Council. Polling for the councillor’s seat in the ward is scheduled for September 11.
The villagers said they had already raised concerns with the government, administration and elected representatives but had received no satisfactory resolution. They maintained that the boycott would continue until their demand to restore Gram Panchayat status was accepted.
(IANS)
