2.4. Elections to the PRIs

♤ All the three levels of Panchayati Raj institutions are elected directly by the people. The term of each Panchayat body is five years.

♤ If the State government dissolves the Panchayat before the end of its five year term, fresh elections must be held within six months of such dissolution. A panchayat constituted upon the dissolution of a panchayat before the expiration of its duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved panchayat would have continued had it not been so dissolved.

♤ This is an important provision that ensures the existence of elected local bodies. Before the 73rd amendment, in many States, there used to be indirect elections to the district bodies and there was no provision for immediate elections after dissolution.

♤ Also no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is less than 25 years of age if he has attained the age of 21 years.