Daijiworld Media Network - Kalaburagi (SP)

Kalaburagi, Dec 9: The Election Commission has taken a serious view of the reports coming in about the auctioning of the seats of gram panchayat members at various places including Kalaburagi and Mandya districts.

The commission officials who visited Bailoor village in Ballari district warned the villagers against indulging in corrupt practices. Case has been registered against the leaders who auctioned the panchayat member seats in Bilivara village in Kalaburagi district.

A video of the 13 gram panchayat posts in Bailoor village, Sindigeri, in Kurugodu taluk, Ballari district had recently gone viral. On Tuesday, tahsildar along with electoral officer Raghavendra Rao visited the village and warned the villagers.

The case was registered against 13 people on the basis of the sale of 13 seats of Bailoor village that took place through auction, and the video of which was shared in social media. All 13 have been named in the complaint. They will get notices and after investigation, legal steps will be taken. Similar reports have come in from some other villages too. Huge amounts change hands in auction of the seats. Deputy commissioner of the district, V V Jyotsana, said that such things will not be tolerated.