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Gujarat Announces APMC Elections in 9 Markets, Extends 15 Others

The Gujarat government has announced elections for nine Agricultural Produce Market Committees whose elected bodies have completed their term. Simultaneously, it has granted a six-month extension to 15 other APMCs where elections cannot be held immediately. Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani stated the delay is due to administrative reasons, primarily the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of voter lists. The extension does not apply to committees where elections are being conducted based on court orders.

Key Points: Gujarat APMC Elections Scheduled, 15 Committees Extended

  • Elections in 9 APMCs
  • 15 committees get 6-month extension
  • Delay due to voter list revision
  • Process follows judicial orders
2 min read

Gujarat govt schedules elections for nine APMCs, extends 15 others amid voter list revision

Gujarat govt schedules elections for 9 APMCs, extends 15 others by 6 months due to voter list revision. Minister Jitu Vaghani details the plan.

"This will facilitate the timely selection of farmer representatives at the local level - Jitu Vaghani"

Gandhinagar, Feb 10

The Gujarat government on Tuesday announced that elections will be held in nine Agricultural Produce Market Committees in the state, while the tenure of 15 other APMCs has been extended by six months due to administrative reasons, including the ongoing revision of electoral rolls.

The decisions were taken by the Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare and Cooperation Department to ensure the continued and orderly functioning of market committees.

Agriculture and Cooperation Minister Jitu Vaghani said instructions have been issued to initiate the statutory process for declaring election programmes in APMCs whose elected bodies have completed their tenure.

Providing details, Vaghani said the Agriculture Department has informed the Director of Agricultural Marketing and Rural Economy to take immediate action, in accordance with rules, to announce election schedules in market committees where the term has expired.

"This will facilitate the timely selection of farmer representatives at the local level," he said.

Elections will be conducted in the APMCs of Bhanvad in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Dholera in Ahmedabad district, Talod in Sabarkantha, Sagbara in Narmada, Kukarmunda in Tapi, Surendranagar, Kamrej in Surat district, and Ranpur and Barwala in Botad district.

The election process in these committees is expected to begin shortly. At the same time, the state government has approved a six-month extension for 15 APMCs where elections cannot be organised immediately.

The minister said that district registrars and office staff are currently engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, as directed by the State Election Commission.

"Due to the ongoing voter list revision work, it is not possible to immediately conduct elections in certain market committees whose tenure has expired or is nearing expiry," Vaghani said.

The APMCs granted a six-month extension from the date of notification include Thasra and Galteshwar in Kheda district; Deodar, Bhabhar and Dhanera in Banaskantha district; Junagadh; Dholka and Bavla in Ahmedabad district; Becharaji in Mehsana district; Shehera in Panchmahal district; Nasvadi and Chhota Udepur in Chhota Udepur district; Prantij in Sabarkantha district; Gadhada in Botad district; and Khambha in Amreli district.

The government clarified that market committees where the election process is being undertaken based on judicial orders or court verdicts will not be eligible for the six-month extension.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
My uncle is a farmer in Surendranagar district. He's been waiting for this. The local APMC has been run by administrators for too long. Timely elections are crucial for getting fair prices and proper facilities. Hope the new body focuses on digital payments and reducing commission charges. 🙏
A
Aman W
While the extension for administrative reasons seems logical, there's always a worry about the 'old guard' holding on to power. The government must ensure this six-month period isn't used to influence the voter revision process. Transparency is key here.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see how local agricultural governance works in India. The mix of immediate elections and extensions shows a pragmatic approach to a complex administrative task. Ensuring the voter list is correct is fundamental to any democratic process, so the delay seems justified.
K
Karthik V
APMC reforms are much needed, but elected farmer representatives are still important at the local level. Hope the new committees in places like Dholera and Kamrej focus on infrastructure and connecting farmers directly to big buyers. The future is in contract farming and exports.
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Nisha Z
It's a bit confusing. They are holding elections in 9 places but extending 15 others. Why can't the voter list revision happen simultaneously for all? Seems like a piecemeal approach. However, if it leads to better governance in the mandis, then it's a step in the right direction. Jai Kisan!

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