HYDERABAD: Cracking the whip on those who conducted or participated in open auction of mandal and zilla parishad territorial constituency seats, State Election Commissioner A.V. S. Reddy has said that those found guilty are liable to be jailed for a year and disqualified for six years from contesting elections.

Viewing the reported auctions seriously, the SEC has written to Nizamabad and Prakasam Collectors, where five MPTC seats have been auctioned. "Under the law, the guilty can be arrested," Mr. Reddy told The Hindu on Friday.

Three MPTC seats in Anksapur, Nagapur and Kolipya (Nizamabad) and Boyinavaripalem and Devinuthala (Prakasam) have been auctioned. "We have sought reports from Collectors and SPs of Nizamabad and Prakasam," SEC secretary G.N. Rao told reporters. The reports were expected in two days. "District election authorities have been asked to book cases against the guilty."

Role of village panels

The Commission asked officials in Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts to check activities of village development committees (VDC) which are said to have played a key role in organising the auctions. The SEC sought a report from Collectors whether any criminal cases were registered against such committees in the 2001 elections.

Not new in 3 districts

Auction of seats in panchayat elections are not new in Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts where VDCs run the show.

There are at least 120 active VDCs in Armoor and Balkonda constituencies (Nizamabad) and played a pivotal role in the 2001 elections by passing unanimous resolutions to support the Telangana Rashtra Samiti nominees.

They even decided the sarpanch candidates in many villages leading to heartburn among Congress and TDP leaders. Police complaints were lodged against VDC members leading to arrest of 30 persons who were jailed till completion of the poll process.

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