Bhadrachalam GP polls see unusual alliances, disputes over Congress candidate’s eligibility

The Bhadrachalam major gram panchayat is witnessing unusual political alignments as Congress nominee Punem Krishna faces a disqualification complaint over an active contract. A BJP-backed candidate’s nomination was rejected, while internal Congress factions field rival candidates in the key local body election

Kothagudem: Strange situations and political combinations have emerged in Bhadrachalam major gram panchayat, a key gram panchayat in the district that is going to polls in the first phase of elections.

Congress sarpanch candidate for the key Bhadrachalam gram panchayat Punem Krishna, who was already in troubled waters, is facing uncertainty about his candidature.

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It might be noted that a follower of the local MLA Dr Tellam Venkat Rao, Krishna filed his nomination papers on November 27 for the sarpanch seat unilaterally. This upset former MLA Podem Veeraiah’s faction which wanted to choose the party candidate after arriving at a consensus. A sarpanch candidate supported by BRS, Mane Ramakrishna, on November 30 lodged a complaint to the election returning officer raising objections over Krishna’s nomination. He said Krishna has been registered as a class-V (civil) contractor with Roads and Buildings Department in May 2021 for five years under R&B Khammam circle.

Further, Krishna was awarded a tender by the gram panchayat to collect entry and parking fee for the contract period April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 from devotees visiting Bhadrachalam for darshan of deities at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Devasthanam.

Ramakrishna contended that according to Section 21 1 (C) of Panchayat Raj Act 2018, a person who has a direct interest in a contract or work that is still ongoing with the gram panchayat or any State or Central government, should be disqualified from contesting in the elections. Since the Congress-backed Krishna was executing the tender currently, he was ineligible to contest in the elections and he should be disqualified as per the provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act, he said.

On the other hand, the nomination papers of a sarpanch candidate, Harichandra Naik, a BJP leader supported by TDP-Jana Sena, has been rejected as he did not fill the papers properly and reportedly not signed it as well. He is said to be going for an appeal to consider his nomination.

Meanwhile, in Congress party, Veeraiah’s faction has fielded former Bhadrachalam sarpanch Bhukya Swetha to take on Punem Krishna. Interestingly, CPI (M) is supporting BRS in the Bhadrachalam GP elections.