Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda   

Creating a record of sorts

S.Ramu

CELEBRATING VICTORY: Villagers of Alagadapa congratulating V. Pandu Ranga Rao on Thursday. - PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

NALGONDA: Venepalli Pandu Ranga Rao, outgoing sarpanch of Alagadapa in Miryalaguda mandal has created a record of sorts by calling for a referendum on his performance, not once but twice.

Mr. Rao, who hogged limelight by conducting a referendum on August 17, 2003, after completing two years in power, called for another referendum on Thursday. This time again he came out with flying colours. Mr. Rao had printed ballot papers with three options— `good', `bad' and `so so'. Interestingly, villagers made a beeline to the designated polling stations, two in Alagadapa and one at Subbareddygudem-- to exercise their `franchise.'

Of the 3,150 voters, 1,603 took part in the voting. As many as 1,413 rated his five-year rule as `good' while 79 voters opted for `bad.' The newly elected sarpanch Anasuya (Congress) also took part in the referendum much to the joy of the outgoing sarpanch and other observers.

Third option

"Eighty-eight voters chose the third option and 23 votes were invalid," poll supervisor P.Subba Rao, Mr. Rao's beloved teacher, of the Human Rights Forum declared the results. Representatives of the Lok Satta and Jana Vignana Vedika also supervised the referendum. The moment the results were out, the villagers danced with joy amid applause. They celebrated the victory by taking out a rally in the village. Thanking the voters for reposing tremendous faith in him, Mr. Rao said that he had gone for the referendum, even as he was stepping down after his five-year term, only to know the people's pulse.

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Creating a record of sorts

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