Dead candidate wins Sarpanch seat in Rajanna Sircilla as name stays on ballot

In an unusual turn in the gram panchayat elections, a deceased person was declared elected as Sarpanch in the district on Thursday.

Fifty-three-year-old Cherla Murali had filed his nomination for the Sarpanch post from Chintala Tana under Vemulawada Urban mandal, but he died of heart attack on December 5 soon after filing his



papers.

Despite his death, Murali’s name continued to appear on the final list of contestants, and polling proceeded as scheduled. Officials said he secured more than 700 votes and won with a majority of 378 votes. With the successful candidate no longer alive, the election has been kept on hold, according to reports.