"We want to give more powers to the panchayats and make the mechanism more effective and accountable in letter and spirit of the Constitution," he said.
"The legal issues are being studied and the government will soon take a decision. If needed, we may enact laws and promulgate an ordinance," Nitish said.
P K Sinha of the Samata Party pointed out that the anti-defection law should also be applied to panchayat bodies after holding elections on party basis. State RJD president Abdul Bari Siddiqui and state LJP chief Ghulam Rasool Baliavi raised the issue of reservation for minorities in panchayat.
The local bodies and panchayat system ironically had not been very strong and effective in Bihar. After 1978, the next panchayat elections were held only in 2001, after a gap of 23 years, and that too in view of strong exception taken by the Supreme Court coupled with the Centre's threat to stop funds under various heads.
However, the 2001 panchayat polls had been held on a non-party basis. In that elections many people with serious criminal charges pending against them or those absconding had won the polls.
The governsment is also considering to frame eligibility guidelines for candidates to contest panchayat polls.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1350508,curpg-3.cms
