In an unprecedented move, the Andhra Pradesh Election Commission has stopped the election process in Anksapur in Nizamabad district after getting reports that the mandal parishad territorial constituency seat was 'auctioned' to the highest bidder by the Village Development Committee.
A fresh date for the poll will be notified later.
Following newspaper reports, the SEC had sought a report from Nizamabad District Collector I S Sreenaresh.
The collector submitted a report confirming that members of Anksapur Village Development Committee auctioned the seat for Rs 1.8 lakh on June 14.
The highest bidder was Namala Ashok. He deposited Rs 25,000 as the initial amount and agreed to pay the balance in 30 days.
Others who participate in the auction were Butti Santosh, Teetla Gangaram and Aggu Mahipal.
The VDC asked the highest bidder to pay the amount to it and made it clear that none except the highest bidder should file nomination.
It even warned that anyone else filing the papers would face grave consequences.
Subsequently, the highest bidder filed his nomination papers on June 14.
The commission came to the conclusion that there was a prima facie case of auctioning of the seat and consequently of a corrupt practice and intimidation of the prospective candidates.
The very act of auctioning of the post subverted the democratic process and vitiated the election atmosphere.
Apart from stopping the election, the commission has directed the Nizamabad district collector, who is also the district election authority, to file a first information report and launch prosecution against the persons responsible for auctioning the seat, including the bidders.
Cases would be filed against the guilty under Section 211 (1) of AP Panchayat Raj Act read with Sections 171 B and E of the Indian Penal Code.
"It is necessary to curb money and muscle power for fair conduct of elections. The SEC views the issue very seriously as auctioning of posts to manipulate the election process in order to see that the highest bidder gets elected by paying huge sums of money is a corrupt practice under Section 211 (1) of AP PR Act. This electoral malpractice is also an offence under Sections 171B & E of the Indian Penal Code. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to one year imprisonment and disqualification to contest elections for a period of six years," SEC Secretary G N Rao said.
The SEC is awaiting reports from respective district collectors with regard to similar complaints of auctioning of MPTC seats in Nagapur, Kolipak, Boyinavaripalem and Devinutala.
The commission also directed all the district election authorities to be vigilant and take immediate action under relevant sections if similar incidents come to their notice.