BRS complaints of foul play over Neelibanda thanda Sarpanch election results

A tense situation unfolded in Neelibanda thanda, Jangaon, after the BRS-backed candidate was initially declared Sarpanch with a majority of 54 votes. Later, following a recount ordered by the Returning Officer amid a brief power disruption, the Congress-supported candidate was announced as the winner by a margin of five votes.

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at Neelibanda thanda in Jangaon after the BRS-backed candidate was initially declared as Sarpanch-elect but later Congress-supported candidate was announced as the winner.

In the Neelibanda thanda gram panchayat elections, 714 votes were polled. Initially, the election officials announced that BRS-supported candidate V Suresh had won the Sarpanch post with a majority of 54 votes.

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However, the officials recounted votes later in the evening and announced that Congress-supported candidate G Rakesh had won with a majority of five votes.

Interestingly, after the election officials declared the BRS-backed candidate as the winner, the Congress candidate had congratulated him and left the venue. Surprisingly, after one hour, the Returning Officer (RO) called the Congress candidate back and recounted the votes, according to reports.

Between the first round of counting and the second round, there was a disruption in power supply for five minutes. Also, the Congress candidate did not appeal for recounting but the RO took the decision and later the results were changed, the reports said.

Despite the BRS-backed candidate appealing for another round of vote recounting, the elections officials did not consider his plea. Raising objections over the RO’s decision, a complaint was lodged with the MPDO.