PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Ramnagar
Residents of Rampur, Leti and Chopra villages will cast their votes for the first time in the Panchayat elections since the nation gained independence. These villages, which were previously classified as forest settlements under the Ramnagar block, have now been declared revenue villages after sustained efforts. Due to this major change, the villagers will be able to participate in the Panchayat elections for the first time, casting their votes to elect their Gram Pradhan and block Panchayat members.
A new Gram Panchayat has been created by merging Rampur and Leti villages, while Chopra village has been included under the Patkot Gram Panchayat. In addition, a separate block Panchayat seat under Chopra has also been created.
Newly formed Chopra comprises 416 voters. Leti has 367 voters, Rampur has 519 voters and Patkot has 1,481 voters. For the villagers of Chopra, Leti and Rampur, this will be their first experience of voting in the Panchayat elections since independence.
According to Panchayat ADO Hem Chandra Arya, the total number of Gram Pradhan seats in the Ramnagar block had earlier been reduced from 53 to 49. However, with the addition of the new Chopra seat, the number has now risen to 50. Similarly, the number of block Panchayat member seats, which had decreased from 33 to 30, has increased to 31 following the inclusion of Bhalon and the creation of the new Chopra seat.
