A woman deputy collector in Madhya Pradesh, Nisha Bangre, was arrested while leading a foot march in her quest for the government to accept her resignation. She initiated the march on September 28 from Betul district, aiming to reach the state capital, Bhopal. Her primary objective was to secure the government’s acceptance of her resignation, as she aspired to contest the upcoming assembly polls.
Nisha Bangre, serving as the deputy collector of Chhatarpur district, submitted her resignation in June this year. However, the state government has yet to acknowledge or accept her resignation, according to her family members.
The Madhya Pradesh assembly elections are scheduled for November 17, with the vote counting set for December 3.
The arrest of Nisha Bangre occurred after the march participants began moving towards the residence of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as confirmed by a police official on Tuesday.
The arrest was made under Section 151 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to the assembly of five or more individuals causing a disturbance to peace. Following her arrest, Nisha Bangre was brought before a local court. However, she declined bail and was subsequently sent to jail.
Saroj Mishra, an official from Bhopal Central Jail, mentioned that Nisha Bangre had been placed in the women’s ward within the prison. There were reports of a possible hunger strike by her inside the prison, but the official clarified that no written notice of such an action had been received.
Nisha Bangre, belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, decided to resign from her position after her request for leave to participate in a religious program in her hometown, Betul district, was denied. Her husband, Suresh Agrawal, revealed that she has aspirations to contest the assembly elections from Amla in Betul district.
Suresh Agrawal further elaborated that her resignation, submitted on June 22, had not been acknowledged or accepted. Frustrated by the lack of progress, she initiated a peaceful foot march on September 28. The marchers aimed to reach the residence of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal and peacefully present their request.
However, the march was interrupted midway by the police, leading to Nisha Bangre’s arrest. Her husband expressed hope that she would soon be released, as they were working on the necessary formalities to secure her release from jail.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by government employees in pursuing political aspirations, particularly when resignations are not promptly accepted. Nisha Bangre’s determination to contest the assembly polls led her to take this unconventional path, embarking on a foot march to advocate for her resignation acceptance.
The upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh will be closely monitored, with this incident drawing attention to the complexities of political engagement for government officials and the broader issues surrounding resignation procedures and eligibility for electoral candidacy.
