In Kyasamballi grama panchayat, a returning officer assigned with holding gram panchayat elections for the post of president and vice-president grama panchayat allegedly cast votes on behalf of illiterate members.
Kyasamballi is the native village of Kyasamballi Chengalaraya Reddy, the first Chief Minister of Karnataka.
The incident raises questions as to whether elected members at grassroot levels can exercise their powers effectively.
The election process was scheduled on Friday and among the eighteen, four members – three women and one man – expressed their inability to read and said they wanted to cast their votes with the help of others.
Reacting to their plea, the RO Narayanaswamy, said casting of votes by outsiders may invite trouble. However, he offered to cast the votes by himself on their behalf.
