208 members to boycott polls

Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Nov 15:  All 208 Sarpanchs and Panchs from block Bani and Duggan in Bani  tehsil of district Kathua, have decided to boycott the MLC elections from Panchayat quota.
In a written and duly signed representation given to SDM Bani Rajinder Sharma today, all the elected Panchayat members from remote Bani Sub Division have expressed strong resentment over the attitude of the  Coalition Government for not providing full powers to the Panchayats. They said without going for 73rd amendment as already projected, the elections to the MLC posts were meaningless. They will like to stay away from the polls  under such circumstances.
The SDM said that he has forwarded the representation of the elected Panchayat representatives to the Dy Commissioner Kathua.