Union Territories & Panchayats
(1) State law governs a Panchayat's composition, but the population-to-seats ratio must be roughly uniform across the state at each level. (2) All seats are filled by direct election from territorial constituencies within the Panchayat area. (3) State law may also provide for representation of village-level Chairpersons at higher levels, intermediate-level Chairpersons at the district level, and local MPs/MLAs/MPs(RS)/MLCs in the relevant Panchayat. (4) All members (however chosen) can vote in Panchayat meetings. (5) A village-level Chairperson is elected as state law provides; intermediate/district-level Chairpersons are elected by and from among the Panchayat's own elected members.
This sets the basic democratic structure for Panchayats: direct election of members from local constituencies, roughly population-proportional representation, and a layered system where certain higher-level Panchayats also include representatives connected to lower-level bodies and to the state's own legislators.
This is why, in many states, a district Zila Parishad includes not just its own directly-elected members but also representation connected to intermediate-level Panchayat Chairpersons and local MPs/MLAs, creating linkages across the three tiers.