Rival groups clash, ransack office

Eluru: The election to the post of upa-sarpanch of Venkatapuram gram panchayat in Eluru rural mandal was put off owing to clashes that took place between two groups here on Friday.

Venkatapuram, a major panchayat in Eluru rural mandal, witnessed several misappropriations and irregularities in the panchayati administration in recent times. The sarpanch was suspended by the District Collector on allegations of misappropriation of funds.

After this incident, the members of gram panchayat proposed a no-confidence motion against the upa-sarpanch Sunkara Chandrasekhar three months back. He belongs to the YSRCP and completed four years term. In view of this, the members moved a no-confidence motion and relieved the upa-sarpanch from his duties.

Even after months, the officials did not conduct the election to the post of upa-sarpanch. Following this, some panchayat ward members approached Andhra Pradesh High Court and filed a petition. The High Court has directed the District Collector to conduct the election of the panchayati upa-sarpanch post within three weeks from the date of the order.

Following the Court directions, the District Collector K Bhaskar issued notification to the election to the post of upa-sarpanch. The officials had announced that the election would be conducted on December 15 at the panchayat office.

The District Collector appointed the Divisional Panchayati Officer Chinna Rao to conduct the election. Chinna Rao went to Venkatapuram panchayat office around 10.00 AM and told the members to participate in the election. There are 20 members in the gram panchayat, Out of which 18 members took part in the election. Out of the 18 members, 11 members are in one group and another six in another group.

The remaining three who formed their own group came to the Panchayati office to participate in the election. However, the six-member group alleged that two members of their group were missing and someone kidnapped them. They said that without tracing those members, the election should not be held and demanded the election officer to postpone the election.

However, the 11-member group has favoured conducting the election. Following this, these two groups belonging to the Telugu Desam Party had a verbal spat and started shouting at each other.

On hearing the shouts, the henchmen of both groups entered into the panchayat office and started raising slogans for and against the holding of election. This led to a tense situation in the office. Some people ransacked the office breaking the furniture and chairs. They also tore off the election papers.

The police immediately plunged into action and brought all the agitating people from the office. Even then, the members of both groups did not stop raising slogans. Following this, the Election Officer Chinna Rao told the media that as the situation was going out of control, he postponed the election.

“The mob entered the office where the election was to be conducted and tore off the election papers and almost attacked the members. They ransacked the furniture. As a result, the election had to postponed, he added.