"It's a very good signal in a democracy that has been reflected through the people's mandate against atrocities by the major ruling party in the recent panchayat polls," the former Union HRD minister said at a seminar India today: In the perspective of panchayat polls in Kolkata.

Joshi claimed the political hegemony over the three-tier panchayati raj system, which prevailed before the recent panchayat polls in the eastern state, was more dangerous than the prevalence of caste system in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

"Control of a panchayat by a caste remains confined within a specified area (in states like Bihar, UP) but political control over any system has wider ramification," Joshi observed.

Welcoming Panchayati Raj system in the country as an institution, Joshi said this system was prevalent and far more resilient in our country even centuries back.