Sarpanch post sold for 15 lakh

Chilukur (Suryapet): The State Election Commission request to people to not to favour panchayats elected unanimously seems to be falling on deaf ears. The power-hungry leaders defying the orders of SEC are following the backdoor methods and making a mockery of the democracy by auctioning the posts. One such an incident came to the light on Wednesday in the newly-formed Ramchandranagar gram panchayat in Chilukur mandal in the district.

According to sources, Payali Ramesh, Budigum Srinu, Dongari Veera Swamy, Budigum Saidulu and Dongari China Biksham of the village eyed the Sarpanch post under BC Reservation. All the Sarpanch aspirants informed their intention to the leaders of their respective parties and sought their help.

The leaders swung into action and decided to auction the Sarpanch post for Rs 15 lakh and use the amount for the development of the village. As part of it, on Wednesday, the leaders of all parties in the village converged at the gram panchayat office and informed about their decision to the aspirants and others. After all the five sarpanch aspirants agreed to pay the decided amount of Rs 15 lakh, the leaders decided to pick the Sarpanch through a lucky dip.

Subsequently, Dongari China Biksham was picked as the Sarpanch of Ramchandranagar gram panchayat. Soon after his election, China Biksham joined the ruling TRS party. Similarly, the leaders also decided that persons who want to become vice-Sarpanch and ward members of have to purchase the posts for the development of village.

However, pinched by the kind of decision, a majority of villagers of the gram panchayat expressed their anguish over the unlawful decision taken by the political leaders. They demanded the officials concerned to take action against the persons of the village who decided the Sarpanch through auction and lucky dip.