Political Rivalry Heats Up in Uttar Pradesh's Phulera Village in New Season of Panchayat
Election Tensions Rise in Phulera
In the tranquil village of Phulera, Uttar Pradesh, the atmosphere is charged as the election for the sarpanch's position approaches. The fierce competition between Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) and Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar) is intensifying, resembling a battle for power.
Manju Devi's election symbol, a bottle gourd, is being fiercely promoted against Kranti Devi's cooker. To secure her position, Manju Devi relies heavily on her husband, former sarpanch Brij Bhushan (Raghubir Yadav), their daughter Rinku (Sanvikaa), and supporters Vikas (Chandan Roy) and Prahlad (Faisal Malik). Meanwhile, Kranti Devi's husband Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) and his associates Binod (Ashok Pathak) and Madhav (Bulloo Kumar) are backed by legislator Chandrakishore (Pankaj Jha), who has a longstanding feud with Brij Bhushan.
The new season of Prime Video's Panchayat revolves around this election, prompting village council secretary Abhishek (Jitendra Kumar) to contemplate leaving Phulera for good.
Abhishek has been striving to pass an exam for a prestigious educational institution but finds himself increasingly entrenched in the complexities of village life. His neutrality as a government employee has eroded, and he has developed feelings for Rinku, while also caring for Vikas and Prahlad.
Initially, Panchayat focused on Abhishek's struggles to adapt, but it has transformed into a commentary on local politics. The Hindi comedy maintains its signature style of progress and setbacks, a hallmark since its debut in 2020.
Despite changes in Phulera, many aspects remain constant. Once a reflection of rural life, the series now also serves as a source of contrived humor. Its immense popularity has led to remakes in various languages, and Panchayat shows no signs of relinquishing its hard-won ground, much like Manju Devi.
The latest eight-episode season amplifies the election drama, leading to an income tax raid and even the involvement of the 'High Command,' represented by a Member of Parliament (Swanand Kirkire). At times, it seems as if Manju Devi and Kranti Devi are vying for national leadership rather than local governance.
The familiar plot elements resonate more effectively than the new antics introduced. Writer Chandan Kumar and director Deepak Kumar Mishra, both seasoned in the series, skillfully keep the audience engaged. They incorporate well-crafted standalone moments and humorous, offbeat dialogues whenever the electioneering spirals out of control, which is frequent.
The main cast—Abhishek, Manju Devi, Brij Bhushan, Vikas, and Prahlad—continues to draw emotional investment from viewers. Any scene featuring Vikas and Prahlad is a highlight. Chandan Roy and Faisal Malik have so fully embraced their roles that they could easily lead a spin-off series.
Durgesh Kumar shines as Bhushan, while Pankaj Jha brings humor as Chandrakishore. Their antics steer Panchayat away from Abhishek's personal struggles. Despite Bhushan's relentless scheming, he remains oblivious to the Abhishek-Rinku relationship, which continues to lack excitement.
Once again, Abhishek questions whether Phulera can thrive without him. Panchayat retains its laid-back charm, postponing any resolution for future seasons.