Democracy for Sale: Telangana's Panchayat Auctions Exposed
In a startling development that undermines grassroots democracy, numerous villages across Telangana are witnessing open auctions for sarpanch posts with bids reaching astronomical figures between ₹20 lakh and ₹1 crore. The practice, conducted under the guise of 'unanimous' elections, has become widespread across districts including Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Khammam.
The Auction Mechanism: From Temples to Schools
The auctions are being conducted publicly with specific development projects cited as justification. In Joggudem, an ST thanda panchayat in Kamepalli mandal of Khammam district, the bidding for the sarpanch seat reserved for an ST woman occurred in full public view last Saturday. The auction began at ₹5 lakh and rapidly climbed to ₹20 lakh. The winning bidder was instructed to pay ₹5 lakh immediately and settle the remaining amount by November 30, with villagers deciding the funds would finance construction of the Abhayanjaneya Swamy temple.
Similar patterns emerged across other districts. In Mittadoddi of Gattu mandal in Jogulamba Gadwal district, one aspirant reportedly offered ₹90 lakh for the position. The erstwhile Mahabubnagar district witnessed sarpanch posts in Anantharam going for approximately ₹60 lakh, while Chintalakunta saw its post sold for ₹38 lakh.
Record Breaking Bids and Payment Plans
The financial stakes have reached unprecedented levels. In Tankara of Hanwada mandal in Mahabubnagar, a local aspirant publicly declared his readiness to spend up to ₹1 crore to secure the sarpanch seat. Some candidates have devised creative payment structures - in Nalladevunipalli in Kurvapalli mandal, the sarpanch seat was allotted to an aspirant for ₹45 lakh, with ₹15 lakh paid upfront and the remainder promised after the election.
Alternative forms of payment have also emerged. In one village, a candidate submitted a bond promising to donate one acre of land for the school in exchange for the post. The monetization has become so systematic that in Doddipally of Nawabpet mandal, both sarpanch and upa sarpanch posts were finalized without a single vote being cast.
Rising Land Values Fuel Corruption
Experts attribute this trend to escalating land values and the increasing influence that comes with access to main roads, making sarpanch positions in many panchayats prized assets worth substantial financial investment. In the same Nawabpet mandal, Gorlakhandoddi's post is believed to have been sold for ₹57 lakh, while in Lingapuram it reportedly went for ₹34 lakh. In Gadwal mandal, a seed businessman secured the Kondapally sarpanch post for ₹60 lakh.
This widespread practice continues even as the Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) prepares for gram panchayat polls in three phases on December 11, 14, and 17, with nominations for the first phase closing last Saturday. The TSEC maintains strict norms for unanimous declarations, but ground reality appears dramatically different.
Glimmers of Hope Amidst Corruption
Despite the rampant commercialization of grassroots democracy, exceptions exist that restore faith in the process. In Mansingh thanda of Jangaon district, the sarpanch was chosen unanimously without any financial transactions. With only two aspirants, the decision was made through a simple coin toss - and accepted gracefully by both sides, demonstrating that traditional democratic values can still prevail.
The situation presents a critical challenge for election authorities as they balance administrative procedures against deeply entrenched local practices that threaten the very foundation of rural democracy in Telangana.
