GP Polls: Sarpanch candidates in Khammam come up with strange promises

In Khammam, sarpanch candidates Ravella Krishna Rao and Kondapalli Srinivas Rao have announced unique manifestos promising scholarships, free water, money for weddings, medical camps, and even addressing monkey menace. Villagers await their decision to get elected unanimously

Khammam: A few candidates contesting for sarpanch posts in the district have announced manifestos making rather strange promises, similar to political parties that come up with manifestos to attract voters.

A sarpanch candidate, Ravella Krishna Rao of Muthapuram gram panchayat, Nelakondapalli mandal, announced a manifesto with 21 promises, which includes donating an acre of land for Veeranna Swamy temple in the village.

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The manifesto he announced, explaining what he would do for the village for the next five years if he is elected, has been doing rounds on social media besides drawing the attention of the villagers. However, Krishna Rao wants the villagers to elect him unanimously to deliver his promises.

Paying house taxes, power bills, organising free medical camps every month with free distribution of medicines to the poor, and donating Rs 50,000 to every temple, mosque, and church in the village every year are among the promises he made.

He also promised to give Rs 2,000 scholarship to two meritorious students from each class, daily annadanam to those on Ayyappa deeksha, free mineral water supply to every household by setting up a water plant at his own expense, and free DJ system for weddings and fairs.

Krishna Rao said that he loves his village very much and wants to give back to the village where he was born and raised. But unmindful of his request to elect him unanimously, several candidates submitted nominations for sarpanch posts.

It is learnt that the villagers asked him to deposit Rs 30 lakh, which is needed to deliver his promises for one year, with the panchayat. But he has not done so far. As Saturday is the last day for withdrawing nominations, everyone is waiting to see whether he will fulfil his desire to get elected unanimously. The election will be held in the second phase.

Meanwhile, at Peruvancha of Kallur mandal, a sarpanch candidate, Kondapalli Srinivas Rao, has come up with an innovative way to impress the voters. He drafted a manifesto on bond paper. He told the villagers that if he is elected he would address the monkey menace, spending whatever amount it requires.

Further, he promised to give Rs 25,116 for the marriage of each young woman, Rs 10,116 to each pregnant woman for child delivery, Rs 10,116 for house warming ceremony, and free insurance to farm labourers.