Dahod district panchayat: Days after violence, Congress finally takes over top posts

District Collector M A Gandhi deployed additional security at the district panchayat premises to contain any force or rebellion by the elected members.
Congress had won 26 of the 50 seats of the district panchayat, taking a marginal lead of two seats over BJP.

On Tuesday, when the elections were to be held to the posts of president and vice-president, politically-motivated miscreants allegedly indulged in stone-pelting and rioting, bringing the session to a grinding halt.

The district collector then adjourned the session by a day. However, the elections again could not be conducted as BJP members objected to the proceedings and Gandhi adjourned the process for three more days.

Dahod police have registered an offence against several members of BJP and Congress for the rioting on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Saturday, the district collector began the proceedings for the elections at 11 am, installing several CCTV cameras in the premises of the district panchayat to keep vigil on miscreants.

Superintendent of Police Mayank Chavda said, “We had deployed officers to keep watch on any disruptive acts inside the premises of the district panchayat. The police are not allowed inside the hall of the panchayat, but our officers stationed outside ensured security to all the elected members.”

BJP’s district chief Sudhir Lalpurwala and Congress leader Kirit Patel remained unavailable for comment.