Madhya Pradesh

• 28 Jun 2022

Youngest Sarpanch of Madhya Pradesh

Why In News?

• In the recently concluded three-tier panchayat elections in Madhya Pradesh, 21-year-old Lakshika Dagar from Ujjain has won a landslide victory to become the youngest sarpanch (head of a village) of Madhya Pradesh.

Key Point

• Lakshika Dagar, 21, has achieved this distinction by winning the election from Chintaman Jawasiya gram panchayat of Ujjain district.
• Lakshika won the victory by defeating her rival candidate by 487 votes.
• Lakshika has worked as a radio jockey and news anchor in Ujjain after her Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication.
• It may be recalled that in order to establish democracy at the grassroots level, through the 73^rd Constitution Amendment Act, 1992, the Panchayati Raj Institutions were given constitutional status and entrusted with the task of rural development in the country.
• A three tier system of Panchayats has been introduced at village, intermediate (block/taluka/mandal) and district levels except in those States having a population of less than 20 lakh (Article 243B).
• The seats at all levels are to be filled by direct election [Article 243C(2)]
• There shall be an independent Election Commission in each State for superintendence, direction and control of electoral rolls (Article 243K).