<![CDATA[Village development through the Village Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbangdes) is essentially designed as a participatory mechanism that provides space for communities to determine development priorities according to local needs. However, in practice, the decision-making process is often influenced by elite groups with greater access to information, power, and decision-making forums. This study aims to analyze the process of setting development priorities, identify forms of local elite dominance, and examine their impact on community participation in Musrenbangdes in Bandar Khalipa Village, Deli Serdang Regency. The study used qualitative methods with a descriptive approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomena occurring in the field. The results show that the process of setting development priorities does not fully reflect the principles of participatory development because community involvement is still limited and strategic decisions are mostly determined by the village head, village officials, the Village Consultative Body, and other influential figures. The dominance of local elites is evident in the significant influence of these groups in determining the direction of development and establishing priority programs. This condition has resulted in decreased transparency, reduced representation of community aspirations, and the emergence of a tendency towards apathy in community participation. This research emphasizes the importance of strengthening transparency, accountability, and expanding community involvement so that the Village Development Planning (Musrenbangdes) process can be more democratic, inclusive, and meet the needs of the entire village community.]]>
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