Oops, a man gets elected in ward reserved for women

The district administration on Saturday realised that a man was elected from a ward reserved for women during the first phase of elections to the gram panchayats, and sought direction from the State Election Commission on the way forward. It was found that M. Ramu was declared elected from Ward No. 8 in Talamarla panchayat, which was reserved for women, because of the oversight of the Stage-1 Returning Officer, who had accepted the nomination papers as though it was a general category seat. The higher-level Returning Officers up to the MPDO too did not notice the gaffe.