People stand in queue to file their nominations for Telangana Gram Panchayat Elections-2025, at a Nominations Receiving Centre in Kavalampet, Sangareddy district on Friday (November , 28 2025)
| Photo Credit: MOHD ARIF
To put a check on the auction of Telangana Gram Panchayat posts, or inducements or coercion which may lead to uncontested election of a candidate, the State Election Election has announced an elaborate but time bound procedure to be followed before announcing the results. If the election environment is found to be vitiated, the District Elections Authority (DEA) concerned may recommend cancelation of the polls in such Gram Panchayats or Wards after following the procedure and an inquiry.
The procedure involves forming a cell to receive and verify reports of such practices, Returning Officer (RO) receiving declaration from candidates that they are withdrawing voluntarily, informing District Election Authority (DEA) about factual position and others before declaration of elected candidate. The results would be declared if the Authority issues ‘No Objection/Clearance’, as per the circular issued by the Commission on Thursday (November 27, 2025).
The DEA shall direct the RO to withhold the result declaration if there is prima facie evidence or a credible report of vitiating environment in the village. After conducting an inquiry within 24 hours, it will communicate to the State Election Commission if DEA finds that the election environment was vitiated and recommend the election in those respective Gram Panchayats and the Wards to be countermanded.
The Commission informed that instances of ‘auctioning of posts’ was brought to its notice and forced withdrawals are being employed to secure uncontested results in Gram Panchayat elections. The polls to 12,728 Sarpanch and 1.12 lakh Ward Member posts would be held in three phases – December 11, 14 and 17. The notice to the first phase was issued on Thursday (November 27, 2025) and people began to file nominations for the posts.
Channels to receive complaints
According to the circular, DEAs should activate Special Monitoring Cells to receive and verify reports of auctioning, inducement, intimidation and coercion and other relevant actions through written complaint, WhatsApp, oral complaint or newspaper clippings and others. A few DEA have announced phone numbers and other methods to lodge complaints. The Commission too has announced the ‘Grievance Module’ option available on its website.
Declaration forms
The Returning Officer (RO) shall obtain declaration forms from candidates withdrawing from the elections and the uncontested candidate — confirming no auctioning, inducement, coercion. The RO would prepare the result sheet. However, before formally signing and handing over the declaration to the candidate, the officer send the factual position to the District Election Authority who shall communicate ‘No Objection / Clearance’ for declaration of the result of uncontested election if there is no complaint of auctioning or intimidation or inducement or coercion.
The DEA shall order the RO to withhold the result declaration if there is prima facie evidence or a credible report of vitiating environment in the village. An inquiry shall be conducted within 24 hours.
“If the District Election Authority is satisfied that the environment of election is vitiated and the election process is compromised in a wholesale fashion, the report shall be sent to State Election Commission with a recommendation to countermand the election in those respective Gram Panchayats and the Wards,” as per the circular.
Published – November 28, 2025 06:00 pm IST
