Archive · 13 Dec 2025
Dead Candidate Wins Telangana Sarpanch Election
A man named Murali was running for a village leader position in India.
Sadly, he died from a heart attack just after he signed up to run.
The voting papers were already printed with his name, so the election went ahead.
Many people in the village voted for him to honor his memory, and he won by a lot of votes.
Now, the officials are deciding what to do because the winner is no longer alive.
This story shows how people in the village cared about Murali and how elections can be tricky when unexpected things happen.
Cherla (Charla/Varla) Murali, a gram panchayat sarpanch candidate, died of a heart attack on December 5, just hours after filing his nomination papers.
The election proceeded as scheduled with Murali's name on the ballot due to administrative and legal procedures.
Murali won the election posthumously, securing over 700 votes and defeating his nearest opponent by 378 votes.
Villagers voted for Murali as a tribute, reflecting their strong bond and loyalty towards him and his family.
Election officials have withheld the final declaration and are reviewing legal provisions to decide the next steps, which may include declaring the seat vacant and announcing a fresh election.
- Who
- Cherla (Charla/Varla) Murali, a gram panchayat sarpanch candidate
- What
- Murali won the sarpanch election posthumously after dying from a heart attack
- When
- Murali died on December 5, and the election was held as scheduled
- Where
- Chintala Tana (Chintal Tana) village in Vemulawada, Telangana
- Why
- Murali's name remained on the ballot as it was already printed, and villagers voted for him as a tribute
- Candidate Name
- Cherla (Charla/Varla) Murali
- Location
- Chintala Tana (Chintal Tana) village, Vemulawada, Telangana
- Cause of Death
- Heart attack
- Date of Death
- December 5
- Votes Secured
- 700
- Margin of Victory
- 378 votes
- Party Affiliation
- BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi)
