Rajapudi Sarpanch Post Auctioned For Rs 52.50 Lakh

The panchayat polls have heated up the atmosphere in Andhra Pradesh even before summer has set in. Despite the animosity between Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and SEC Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, panchayat polls are being conducted in the state following the apex court order.

According to sources, in Rajapudi village, Jaggampet mandal, East Godavari district, the two groups vying for the sarpanch post have come to an understanding even before the filing of nominations began. As part of it, the elders in the village reportedly gathered at a place and decided to hold an auction for the unanimous election of the sarpanch. While one group in the village bid the post for Rs 51 lakh, the rival group offered Rs 52.50 lakh and secured the sarpanch post.

However, with the winner saying that he would deposit the money only if people of all communities remain united, there was an uncertain atmosphere.

The village elders had begun pacifying the aspirants of all the political parties for the unanimous election in view of the additional government funds they can secure for the development of the village, if there was harmony among the contestants.  

The practice of auctioning the sarpanch post has been going on for the last few years in the village. However, the YCP leader in the village did not accept the villagers’ resolution of unanimous election.

He made it clear that he would contest for the post, recalling that he lost the election with a thin majority earlier. But now, he claimed that people were supporting him completely. He made it clear that he would not agree for unanimous election and in such a situation, the villagers began backing the person who offered Rs 52.50 lakh for the village development.