महाराष्ट्रातील ग्रामपंचायतीबाबत खालील विधाने विचारात घ्या.
(a) मागासवर्गीय उमेदवार सर्वसाधारण (बिगर राखीव) असलेल्या सरपंचपदी निवडून येण्यास पात्र असतो.
(b) सर्वसाधारण (बिगर राखीव) जागेवर निवडून आलेली मागासवर्गीय व्यक्ती मागासवर्गीयासाठी राखीव असलेल्या सरपंचपदी निवडून येण्यास पात्र असतो.

The correct answer is Option C (Both the statements are correct).

Key Points:
• Under the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, reservation provisions allow flexibility for members of reserved categories.
• Statement (a) is correct because any candidate belonging to a backward class can contest and get elected to an unreserved (open) Sarpanch post.
• Statement (b) is also correct because a person belonging to a reserved category who wins a member seat from an open/general category is still eligible to contest for a Sarpanch seat reserved for backward classes, provided they hold a valid caste validity certificate.
• Key Takeaway: Reserved category candidates can contest both reserved and unreserved posts of Sarpanch regardless of whether their member seat was reserved or open.