Keypoints:
- In the recently concluded Panchayat Elections, a Hindu dominated village has elected a Muslim man as Gram Pradhan.
- For the Gram Pradhan’s electoral battle, there were a total eight candidates out of which Hafiz Azimuddin Khan got elected.
Hafiz Azimuddin Khan got elected as the Gram Pradhan in a village in Ayodhya. The village is Hindu dominated and the residents of Rajanpur village of the Mavai block in Rudauli assembly constituency elected Hafiz Azimuddin Khan as their gram pradhan (village head).
For the Gram Pradhan’s electoral battle, there were a total eight candidates out of which Hafiz Azimuddin Khan got elected. His family is the only Muslim family in the predominantly Hindu village. Hafiz was the only Muslim candidate.
In the contest, all the Hindu candidates tried to win over their constituents by promising pension, house under the PM Awas Yojana and allotment of land (patta). But, the villagers rejected all other candidates and voted for Hafiz Azimuddin. This victory in the Panchayat Elections has become the talk of the town.
Hafiz credited his win to the hindu-muslim unity. He said that, “My victory is an example of Hindu-Muslim affinity not only in village Rajanpur but entire Ayodhya.”
He listed out the priorities for the village and said that, “All funds for gram pradhan will be utilised for development of the village. Basic amenities will be augmented, and jobs will be provided to all those entitled under the MNREGA.”
Radhey Shyam who is a native of Rajanpur village was happy with Azimuddin’s victory. He said that, “Azimuddin’s victory is a signal of Hindu-Muslim unity in this village and the rest of Ayodhya. The day Azimuddin filed for his candidature, most of us decided to vote for him.”
Due to the ongoing pandemic, state government has postponed oath taking ceremony of gram pradhans and zila panchayat members. It has also postponed election of chairman, zila panchayat and block pramukhs.
