India, Dec. 24 -- LUCKNOW With the panchayat elections expected in April next year, signs of early political rivalry surfaced on the city's outskirts, after a young aspiring gram panchayat candidate alleged that some people attacked him to force him out of the electoral race, a theory contested by the police.

The family of Madhav Lodhi, 23, a resident of Dudhra village, alleged that he was assaulted on December 22 by the sitting gram pradhan and his associates, claiming the attack was aimed at deterring him from contesting the gram panchayat elections.

They said Madhav had earlier been threatened and assaulted on December 17 after he announced his intention to contest against the incumbent gram pradhan, Gokul Rajput. An FIR was register...