Telangana GP polls: Dead candidate wins Sarpanch seat, re-election likely

A deceased BRS-backed candidate, Cherla Murali, who died days before polling, secured the most votes in the Chinthaltana sarpanch election in Rajanna-Sircilla. Officials have referred the matter to the SEC, which is expected to cancel the poll and order a re-election

Rajanna-Sircilla: With a deceased candidate, who died just days before the elections, polling the most votes and winning the Sarpanch post in Chinthaltana of Vemulawada rural mandal on Thursday, district election officials have decided to write to the State Election Commission to take a decision.

Officials said since the elected candidate was not alive, the SEC would cancel the sarpanch election and conduct a re-election within six months.

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BRS-supported candidate Cherla Murali had filed his nomination for the sarpanch post as the seat was reserved for SC category. However, he died of a heart stroke on December 5. His name remained on the ballot and when the elections were held on Thursday, Murali polled 739 out of the 1,717 votes that were cast. BJP-backed candidate Suruvu Venkati came second with 369 votes, while Congress-backed aspirant Kolapuri Rajamallu managed only 333.

The victory was not announced officially since the winning candidate was not alive, with election officials now preparing to write to the SEC.