Vadodara: Videos showing solar streetlights being removed along with their poles, allegedly following a candidate's defeat in taluka panchayat elections, have triggered a controversy in Dahod, with officials considering action against those involved.
The incident reportedly took place earlier this week in Kheda village of Zalod taluka after results for the Kadwal taluka panchayat seat were declared. The seat was held by Sumitra Vasaiya, who lost to Prakash Nisarta.
According to sources, supporters of the defeated candidate allegedly removed around a dozen solar LED streetlight poles from the village, reportedly expressing anger over the poll outcome. They claimed that despite development work carried out, the candidate did not receive votes.
Videos of the poles being uprooted and taken away went viral on social media, prompting local authorities to look into the matter. Initially, panchayat officials could not find records of the installations with the gram panchayat.
It later emerged that the streetlights were part of an ongoing project funded by the Zalod taluka panchayat and had not yet been formally handed over.
"The poles were part of ongoing installation work under a taluka panchayat grant. The agency had not yet completed the work or handed it over to the gram panchayat," said Dahod district development officer Smeet Lodha, adding that police have been informed and further action is being considered.
