Election Watch cautions EC against forced unanimous elections

Hyderabad: The Telangana Election Watch has cautioned the State Elections Commission against the perils of forced unanimous elections happening in the State at the behest of certain organisations such as village development committees, Caste Welfare Associations etc., wherein open auctions are being conducted and highest bidders are declared as the only candidates to file nominations.

Telangana Election Watch State Coordinators M. Padmanabha Reddy, Chelikani Rao and others met State Election Commissioner V. Nagi Reddy and informed him that the practice was likely to continue even till the last date of withdrawal. They have requested the Election Commission to withhold the declaration of unanimous election in all such cases and severe action to be taken against the culprits, including prosecution under India Penal Code and Panchayat Raj Act. In this regard, they also promised to furnish the information to Returning Officers, Election Officers, District Collectors and District Election authorities and the Election Observers of the State Election Commission.

They further presented that some recently elected MLAs are promising incentives of Rs. 15 Lakhs to each of the unanimously elected Grama Panchayats which is against the Model Code of Conduct and desired suitable action against the concerned.

The Election Watch also requested the Election Commission to supply the list of disqualified persons on account of non-submission of expenditure accounts to the Returning Officers Stage-I so that action can be taken against the defaulters. The meeting ended with the vote of thanks and the State Election Commission assured the Telangana Election Watch of all possible support by the State Election Commission, Collectors and District Election Authorities , District Panchayat Officers and Additional District Election Authorities, R.D.Os, Sub-Collectors and Dy. Election Authorities, M.P.D.Os and Asst. District Election Authorities and the Returning officers also.