The residents of Jamedar Banjaru and Lingalapalli villages in Dammapeta mandal of the district have decided to boycott panchayat elections in protest against reserving both the panchayats to non-scheduled category.
While 1,400 tribals live Lingalapalli village, there are 1,200 people belonging to the community in Jamedar Banjar. Significantly, no one has filed nomination in these two panchayats.
As many as 29,678 people filed their nominations for 758 sarpanch posts and 7,886 for panchayat ward member posts in the district.
According to official reports, 4,985 candidates have filed nominations for village panchayat ward member posts and 813 for sarpanch posts in Paloncha revenue division.
Likewise, 3,369 have filed papers for ward members posts and 609 for sarpanch posts in Bhadrachalam Division, and 5,586 for ward member posts and 956 for sarpanch posts in Kothagudem Division.
As many as 11,400 candidates are competing for panchayat ward member posts and 1,960 for sarpanch posts in Khammam Division.
The panchayat elections would be held on July 23 in Bhadrachalam Division, on July 27 in Khammam Division and on July 31 in the Paloncha and Kothagudem Divisions. The Telugu Desam Party, CPI, CPM, New Democracy and YSR Congress Party aspirants are in the fray.
Meanwhile, Maoists have called for boycott of panchayat elections in Bhadrachalam Division prompting the police to step up security arrangements in the district.