Andhra Pradesh - Ongole   

Narayana angry with RDO on poll

ONGOLE: Communist Party of India State secretary K. Narayana hauled up Revenue Divisional Officer P.B. Gupta for ‘failure’ to resolve controversy surrounding the Tangutur panchayat election in which the returning officer had rejected most of the nominations.

Acting on his complaint, State Election Commissioner A.V.S. Reddy on Wednesday ordered Mr. Gupta, who is appellate authority, to inquire into the issue. Mr. Narayana, who came here on Thursday, met Mr. Gupta to know the action taken. He grew wild when Mr. Gupta justified the action of the Returning Officer in rejecting nominations because the candidates did not furnish declarations regarding their income and children as required under law. Mr. Narayana picked up a row with him saying as appellate authority he should inquire into the issue and take corrective measures, if necessary.

Mr. Narayana contended that none of the candidates filed declarations along with their nominations as officials said that there was no need for them. But later the officials gave declaration forms only to selected candidates on the day of scrutiny and approve them while rejecting other nominations. This was done to placate Congress and TDP leaders who had entered into a local understanding to share the posts between themselves and make it unanimous election to save expenditure on one hand and to develop the village unitedly.

Mr. Narayana said that the presiding officer rejected 12 out of 14 nominations filed for sarpanch post and 69 out of 94 nominations filed for 20 ward member posts. The officials ensured that the sarpanch and all 20 ward members would be elected unanimously after their dummy candidates withdrew their nominations.

As the RDO refused to heed his plea to accept all nominations, Mr. Narayana asked the CPI to stage a dharna near Collectorate on Friday and explore other means to get justice for rejected candidates.

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