Nagaur villagers raise Rs 25 lakh for defeated sarpanch candidate

In a rare display of community solidarity, residents of Modi village in Rajasthan's Nagaur district raised Rs 25 lakh to honor Chidi Devi after her defeat in the Bhadaura Gram Panchayat sarpanch election. Chidi Devi, a 45-year-old from a farming family, lost the contest to Girija Sandu by a margin of 162 votes.

Following a village assembly, community members, including elders and youth, collected the funds and presented them to Chidi Devi's husband, Hemaram Rao, via a ceremonial platter. The presentation was accompanied by music, drums, and celebrations to boost the candidate's morale. Villagers expressed that her previous social contributions, such as donating a tractor to the village cowshed and announcing borewell construction, earned her respect that transcended the election results.