Country's smallest panchayat at Diu gets its 1st elected head

DAMAN: The newly-created panchayat of Diu, the smallest in the country, got its first president today.

Sashikant Solanki was elected unopposed as the first president of Diu panchayat, which has eight members and as many committees, officials said here.

Earlier this month, administrator of Daman & Diu, a Union Territory, passed the order carving out a separate panchayat for Diu. Until now there was a single civic body for both the areas.

As Diu is around 750 kilometres from Daman, creation of a separate panchayat for former was a long-pending demand.

Elections for president's post were also held for the 12- member Daman panchayat here today. Ketan Patel was elected as the president.