HYDERABAD, February 9: A notable divergence has emerged between Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the State Election Commission (SEC) concerning the approach to unanimous selections in upcoming local body elections. In a recent meeting with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), CM Reddy advocated for securing a majority of seats for the Congress party by encouraging MLAs to strive for as many unanimous selections as possible.
Contrarily, reports indicate that the SEC is considering measures to limit the prevalence of unanimous selections. One such proposal involves conducting elections even if only a single nomination is filed, by designating the ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option as a second candidate. This method, already implemented in states like Haryana and Maharashtra, is being contemplated to ensure a more democratic process in Telangana’s local body elections.
The SEC has scheduled a meeting with political parties on February 12 to deliberate on this proposal. The outcome of these discussions will determine whether the government will endorse the SEC’s initiative to mitigate unanimous selections.
Historically, both ruling and opposition parties have endeavoured to secure a majority in local body elections, often facilitating unanimous selections for positions such as panchayat ward members, sarpanches, and MPTC seats. Incentives, including financial grants, have been offered to encourage such practices. However, concerns have been raised about the democratic integrity of unanimous selections, with criticisms suggesting that they may favour the influential and wealthy, potentially undermining the democratic process.
The SEC’s proposed measures aim to address these concerns by promoting more competitive elections and safeguarding democratic principles in the state’s electoral processes.
