Sarpanch candidate climbs tower in Medak protesting against cash distribution by rival

A sarpanch candidate climbed a cell tower in Medak district on Sunday, protesting alleged cash-for-votes distribution by his rival and accusing officials of failing to curb poll malpractices ahead of gram panchayat elections.

Medak: Irked over what he described as the failure of the official machinery to curb cash distribution to voters by his rival, a sarpanch candidate climbed atop a cell tower at Narsampally Pedda Thanda in Narsingi mandal in the early hours of Sunday.

While officials had made all arrangements for polling, the contestant, Shankar Nayak, accused his rival of distributing Rs. 2,000 per vote to gain an advantage. He alleged that officials failed to stop the rival from indulging in malpractices during the election campaign.

---

Nayak claimed that his rival went door-to-door distributing cash to lure voters despite curbs on campaigning being in force. Police rushed to the spot and persuaded him to come down from the cell tower.