In MP, elected women stand aside, husbands take oath

INDORE/BHOPAL: In a bizarre reflection of bigotry in Madhya Pradesh's hinterland, at least 15 women who were elected as panchs and sarpanchs in Dhar and Damoh districts sat in the audience or stayed home as their husbands - dubbed 'Panch Patis' - took oath on the Constitution, right under the noses of government officials.
The incidents make a mockery of women reservation in electoral politics. What's more, in Dhar, the designated government official stood aside as a local BJP leader administered the oath of office. When word of this got out, a panchayat secretary in Damoh was suspended and a Dhar official showcaused.
The incidents happened in Sundrel gram panchayat of Dhar district, about 90km from Indore, and Gaisabad panchayat in Damoh, 65km from the district HQ and 315km from Bhopal.