Beyond Reservations: How Dalit Women Won General Seats to Become Sarpanches in Gujarat’s Villages

Patan/Sabarkantha- Politics is often not considered women's domain, especially in rural areas. When it comes to contesting from general seats, the struggle becomes even tougher for Dalit women. Yet, in Gujarat's recent panchayat elections, two Dalit women not only contested but also scripted history by winning from unreserved seats.

On June 22, voting took place for 8,326 gram panchayats across Gujarat, with results declared on June 25. A total of 751 panchayats saw uncontested elections. Overall, 81 lakh voters exercised their franchise to elect 3,656 sarpanches and 16,224 panchayat members.

According to reports published in Khabar Antar, Premilaben Makwana from Runi village in Patan district and Ranjanben Parmar from Anjana village in Sabarkantha district, both belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, achieved a remarkable feat by winning from general category seats without relying on reservation. This victory holds immense significance as it symbolizes social progress, demonstrating that women from marginalized communities can lead without quota benefits.

Ranjanben Parmar- First Dalit woman to win the sarpanch seat from a general category

In Anjana village, Ranjanben Parmar created history by winning with a razor-thin margin of just three votes. Out of 1,016 voters, she secured 300 votes, while her closest rival, Surajben Patel, received 297.

The election saw fierce competition among five candidates—two Patels, one Darbar, and two Bahujan Samaj nominees—but Ranjanben emerged victorious, becoming the first Dalit woman to win the sarpanch seat from a general category in her village.

Anjana, dominated by Patel, Thakor, and other OBC communities, witnessed a political upheaval with her win. The final tally showed Ranjanben with 300 votes, Surajben Patel with 297, Bhavanaba Thakor with 199, Chanchiben Patel with 140, and Ashaben Solanki with 34 votes. Six votes were declared NOTA.

Premilaben Makwana- The Uneducated Yet Astute Political Player

Meanwhile, in Runi village, Premilaben Makwana won by a comfortable margin of 129 votes, securing 392 out of 682 votes cast. Despite being uneducated, she displayed sharp political acumen, inherited from her husband, Dineshbhai, a former sarpanch. After Dineshbhai had to resign due to having a third child (violating the two-child norm for sarpanches), Premilaben stepped up and proved her leadership.

Runi’s demographic mix includes OBC Thakors, Bharvads, Devipujaks, and SC communities. Though Thakors form the majority, lack of education and awareness persists. Premilaben’s victory underscores how social awareness and public support can overcome deep-rooted barriers. She now aims to focus on education and upliftment of OBC communities.

The victories of Premilaben Makwana and Ranjanben Parmar have sparked jubilation among Ambedkarite circles, with activists calling it a transformative moment in Gujarat's grassroots democracy. "At a time when atrocity reports from across Gujarat dominate headlines, these wins demonstrate how marginalized communities - especially Dalit women - are becoming politically assertive," said Sanjay Baudh, a prominent Dalit rights activist from Ahmedabad.

Baudh emphasized the long-term significance: "This isn't just about two elections - it's about shattering the psychological barrier that reserved seats are the only path to power. When Dalit women win general seats against dominant castes, it creates a new playbook for social democracy."

The activist community particularly notes how both winners overcame intersecting disadvantages - gender, caste and in Premilaben's case, illiteracy - to claim leadership positions traditionally monopolized by upper castes. "These sarpanches have shown that political empowerment can happen beyond the framework of reservations," Baudh added. "Their success will inspire generations of Dalit women to claim their rightful space in Gujarat's political arena."