Election official suspended

By Our Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA, AUG. 11. The District Election Authority has been caught in a piquant situation as one of its officials permitted one person to contest from two wards in Penugnchiprole village in Krishna district in violation of the Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.

The Election Officer concerned, Mr. M. Nancharaiah, Assistant Engineer, Nagarjuna Sagar canals, was placed under suspension and officials are waiting for directions from the State Election Commission whether they can hold election after rejecting the disputed nominations or postpone the election.

The Panchayat Raj Act clearly lays down in Sec.234 that no person should be allowed to contest from more than one ward in any village. Unaware of the rule, Mr. Nancharaiah accepted the nominations of Karla Venkatanarayana to contest from two wards in the village. He also accepted the nominations of Janakiramaiah to contest from two wards against rules leading to a controversy.

The election official, during the scrutiny, was expected to apprise the candidates of the rule position that nobody can contest from more than one ward and advise them to withdraw one of their nominations. Had they failed to comply with his advice, he would have deemed that both nominations were withdrawn and removed their names from the list of candidates in both wards. But the election official did not finalise the list of candidates nor did he publish the list at the scheduled time on August 8. When he tried to publish the list on August 9, there was commotion in the village and he was prevented from doing his job.

When the issue was brought to the notice of the Sub- Collector, Mr. S. Arogyam, who is District Deputy Election Authority, he asked the election officer to serve notices on the candidates stating that their nominations were deemed to have been withdrawn and that they cannot contest from any one of the two wards. But he did not serve the notices inviting disciplinary action. After inquiry, the District Election Authority has decided to suspend him.

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