Anticipating a tug-of-war for power during local body polls– the ruling Mahayuti government is mulling over the option to offer co-opted seats in rural local bodies, such as Zilla Parishad and the Panchayat Samiti.

Maharashtra’s Revenue minister and Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule has written to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking amendment in the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Act, 1961 where five and two members can be co-opted in Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti, respectively.

“This will give an opportunity to workers who work for the society but have no capacity to contest elections, to participate in the process of development. This will make the functioning of the local bodies more effective and inclusive,” said the

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