Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu on Wednesday stressed discipline, ideological clarity and grassroots empowerment while addressing a state-level orientation programme for newly elected zilla parishad chairperons, zilla parishad members and gram panchayat chairpersons.“The party would not hesitate to take action against representatives who fail to uphold discipline and performance standards,” he said, urging elected panchayat representatives to work as a team, remain active and committed, and contribute towards a developed Arunachal Pradesh.
Congratulating the BJP organisation for its performance in the recent panchayat elections, Khandu described the results as “historic”, saying the party secured an overwhelming presence across the state, according to an official report. He also congratulated party workers and newly elected representatives, noting that many first-time representatives, including graduates and postgraduates, had entered the Panchayati Raj system.Khandu said the orientation programme was aimed at equipping newly elected representatives with clarity on party ideology, responsibilities, conduct and coordination with government systems, adding that separate training programmes for panchayati raj representatives would be conducted by the panchayati raj department in the coming days.Highlighting BJP as a “party with a difference”, he said it functions on the principle of “nation first” and is driven by ideology rather than power, contrasting it with other parties and asserting that the BJP prioritises service to the nation and society above individual or party interests.Tracing Arunachal Pradesh’s democratic journey, Khandu said the state was formally named and brought under a structured democratic framework only after 1972 and cited historical neglect after Independence. He said the state has seen significant transformation over the last decade, particularly after BJP formed the govt under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.Khandu said development is a continuous process but that pace and efficiency depend on governance quality, asserting that the difference in governance over the last 10 years was visible.He urged Panchayat representatives to strengthen democratic institutions at the grassroots.Emphasising the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in achieving the vision of a “Viksit Bharat”, he said development cannot be limited to metropolitan cities and must begin from villages and Panchayats. He said empowered gram panchayats would lead to stronger constituencies, districts, states and ultimately a developed nation.The chief minister reminded newly elected representatives that they are public figures and that their conduct reflects on themselves and the party. He said BJP has a strong monitoring and reporting system at the grassroots level and stressed discipline, integrity and accountability.Khandu said the govt respects the autonomy of PRIs and that there would be no interference from MLAs in Panchayat functions. He added that the state govt would further strengthen PRIs by enhancing support systems and decentralising power.Urging better coordination between party organisation and governance, he suggested integrating elected panchayat members into booth-level party committees to ensure effective implementation of government schemes and stronger organisational cohesion.He called on panchayat representatives to familiarise themselves with central and state government schemes, including flagship programmes, and act as facilitators for last-mile delivery of benefits to the poorest sections. He said public service requires knowledge, continuous learning and proactive engagement with officials and institutions.Khandu also stressed training, leadership development and ideological grounding, saying the BJP is guided by the principle of “sabka saath, sabka vikas”.
