24th July 2013 To, P Ramakanth Reddy Chief Election Commissioner Buddha Bhavan Secunderabad.

Sub: Appeal to restrain Political Parties & Media from announcing Gram Panchayat election results on party basis Respected Sir, We would like to bring to your kind notice an unhealthy practice being adopted by the political parties & Telugu media (Newspapers & TV Channels) in announcing the results of the ongoing Gram Panchayat Elections on party basis. Since last one week, we are seeing several instances of political parties claiming that they have won a majority number of Gram Panchayat seats and the Telugu media publishing and airing news about the election results on a party basis. This happened twice in the last one week. First, when the list of unanimously elected candidates was announced on 17th July and then on 23rd and 24th July, 2013, when the first phase of Gram Panchayat elections were completed. Whats shocking is that the different political parties and media houses are claiming that the same Gram Panchayat seat is won by different political party. We have attached a few newsclips for your perusal. Sir, as you are already aware, the Gram Panchayat elections are being held on a non-party basis. The candidates are allotted only free symbols per the notification of the State Election Commission Lr.No.425.SEC-L/2011 dated 08.06.2011 Attributing a political party to a candidate, defeats the very purpose of holding these elections on a nonparty basis of delinking political affiliations and local governance. We reproduce an extract from the Order passed by State Election Commission (No. 1374/SEC-B1/2013 Dated 20.07.2013) The Gram Panchayat elections are conducted on non-party basis and the candidates are allotted only free symbols that are not reserved to any political party. In conformity with the apolitical spirit contemplated under the statute, the campaign should be conducted without any political overtones. If political overtones are allowed to creep into the campaign process, the spirit of the statute is derailed and the voting public will be swayed by extraneous considerations. The State election commission has already issued guidelines to candidates in exercise of the plenary powers conferred on it under Article 243K of the Constitution of India and Section 200 of the AP Panchayat Raj Act 1994. These guidelines prohibit candidates from displaying any affiliation to any political party.

But, the Telugu media houses have been repeatedly telecasting and publishing the Gram Panchayat Election results on a party-basis. This is vitiating the atmosphere in the villages. Another important fallout of this party-wise result announcement, is its adverse impact on the next round of Gram Panchayat Election. Since these elections are held in three phases, attributing the results to a political party will definitely influence the elections of the next two rounds of elections. We would like to remind that when elections are held in phased manner, Election Commission does not allow even opinion polls to be published/telecasted before all the phases of elections are completed. Keeping the above issues in mind, we request to issue an order restraining the political parties in the state from claiming, and the media houses (News Channels & News Papers) from publishing the Gram Panchayat Election results on a party basis. Thank you,

Konatham Dileep Rakesh Dubbudu

Address for Communication: Konatham Dileep Flat No 102, Abhinay Residency Buddha Nagar Uppal Depot Hyderabad 500039 Phone: 9849696536

Relevant References:

1) State Election Commission Lr.No.425.SEC-L/2011 dated 08.06.2011 2) State Election Commission (No. 1374/SEC-B1/2013 Dated 20.07.2013) 3) State Election Commission Official Statement dated 03/07/2013 4) Newsclips from various Telugu newspapers

Example of same Gram Panchayat being claimed by different political parties

Newsclip from Sakshi Newspaper dated 24th July 2013

Newsclip from Andhrajyothy newspaper dated 24th July 2013

Newsclip from Andhrajyothy newspaper dated 18th July 2013

TDP President Chandra Babu Naidu claiming TDP won majority seats in unanimously elected Gram Panchayats (22nd July 2013 Andhrajyothy)