761 Gram Panchayats in Gujarat elected leaders without polls under the Samras Gram Yojana
Villages choosing consensus over contest receive grants between Rs 3-13 lakh
Raningpara in Junagadh adopted a two-term Sarpanch-sharing agreement between women leaders
Gujarat government disbursed Rs 35 crore to Samras villages via DBT in July 2025
Critics question whether monetary incentives can sustain genuine democratic participation
In June 2025, elections were scheduled in 4,564 Gram Panchayats across Gujarat. But in 761 villages, there was no voting at all. Instead, these panchayats were declared ‘Samras’ — a term used for villages that elect their Sarpanch and ward members by consensus, avoiding any formal polling process.
This model of ‘harmonious panchayats’ has been actively promoted since Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, with financial incentives encouraging communities to sidestep electoral competition. In July 2025, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel disbursed Rs 35 crore in additional grants to the 761 Samras Panchayats through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
One such village is Raningpara, nestled at the base of the Girnar hills in Junagadh district. With a population of around 2,000, Raningpara elected all eight panchayat members — four women and four men — without contest. But the real innovation was in selecting their Sarpanch.
Two days before nominations, the villagers held a community meeting. After discussions, it was agreed that Jaya Ben Mansukhbhai Mahida would serve as Sarpanch for the first two and a half years, followed by Jagriti Ben Dineshbhai Mahida for the remainder of the five-year term. Both belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBC), in line with the current reservation status of the post.
This power-sharing arrangement helped the village avoid internal conflict and secure the Rs 3 lakh grant offered under the Samras Gram Yojana for villages with populations under 5,000.
“I have never been politically active,” said 60-year-old Jaya Ben. “But the entire village has chosen me, so I’m confident I’ll be able to lead.”
She says her priority will be addressing water shortages, particularly when the Narmada pipeline supply is cut off during the dry season. Women in the village bear the brunt of this crisis. “I will speak with officials to ensure year-round water availability. We must also work to prevent drug abuse among the youth,” she added.
Currently, Raningpara’s primary school is undergoing expansion. Jaya hopes to use part of the additional grant to improve girls’ education and other public services.
Most of Raningpara’s residents depend on agriculture, growing wheat and groundnut. Those with smaller landholdings often work as labourers on larger farms. Irrigation is a perennial concern. When the Narmada water supply is suspended in December and the monsoon is weak, agricultural output suffers drastically.
According to the 2025-26 Action Plan Report for Raningpara on the Union Panchayat Ministry’s eGramSwaraj portal, the village has been allocated Rs 11 lakh in tied funds and Rs 7 lakh in untied funds. The Rs 3 lakh Samras grant is in addition to these allocations.
The village had previously been declared Samras about 20 years ago, when another OBC candidate, Bachchu Bhai, was chosen unanimously after the post was reserved for the community.
While the Samras model is praised by some for reducing electoral tension and fostering community unity, critics argue that it bypasses the core principles of democratic participation. They also question whether financial incentives alone can produce long-term governance improvements without genuine accountability or inclusive debate.
In Raningpara’s case, the arrangement appears to have created space for women leadership and collaborative decision-making. But whether this model can be scaled — and still remain democratic — remains to be seen
This article is the first in a series about Samras Panchayats.