The Panchayati Raj Act, 1992, also called the 73rd Constitutional Amendment forayed the backwards and women citizens of India into the process of local self-government in an effective way by allowing reservations for women, Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes. It became a watershed in the process of decentralization and changing the character of public political space at grassroot levels. The present study examines the emerging leadership patterns in rural leadership at Panchayat level and assess the "participation" of the weaker sections in the functioning and decision-making process at the village level.
Weaker Sections, dominant caste, leadership, participation, local self-government
