Panchayat Season 4: When Politics Takes Over and the Plot Gets Left Behind

The fourth season of Panchayat takes a sharp turn from its last season, simple storytelling. The beloved bottle gourd, or lauki, becomes the election symbol for Manju Devi (Neena Gupta), while her opponent, Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), chooses 'pressure cooker'. Though these symbols add a local flavour, the plot starts to feel stretched and overdone as political rivalry dominates the show.

From Rural Charm to Political Tensions

The last season ended with clashes and chaos even as the dates for the upcoming panchayat elections were announced. The friendly vibe of Phulera begins to fade as the new season begins. The focus shifts to a bitter rivalry between Manju Devi and Kranti Devi, each determined to win the panchayat seat. Their supporters get deeply involved, leading to a lot of drama that overshadows the village's earlier warmth and simplicity.

Core Characters Take a Backseat

When the show first began, it won hearts with the story of Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar), an MBA hopeful who becomes the secretary of Phulera's panchayat. His interactions with Prahlad (Faisal Malik), Vikas (Chandan Roy), and Pradhanji (Raghubir Yadav) added humour and emotional depth. But in this season, these characters seem less important, and their stories feel underdeveloped.

Female characters, who were slowly becoming stronger, are pushed aside. Manju Devi, who once looked ready to lead, and Rinki, who showed signs of independence, are both underused. Even Kranti Devi’s fiery personality feels watered down.

Drama Without Depth

Despite the heavy focus on election drama, the emotional pull isn’t quite there. Memorable moments from earlier seasons—like the stolen slippers or Rinki’s confrontation with a stalker—are missing. The romantic angle between Rinki and Sachivji also feels forced and incomplete. While it’s clear that Panchayat is trying to grow into a bigger story, the shift in tone and longer episodes don’t always work in its favour. The new season has its moments, but the heart of Phulera seems to be missing.