In a stunning display of grassroots democracy, a woman daily wage labourer has achieved a remarkable electoral victory, securing the sarpanch's chair in the Jangaon district gram panchayat. Ellandula Thirupathamma, who works on drought-related relief projects, contested as an independent candidate and defeated nominees backed by established political parties.
A Landslide Victory for the Underdog
The election results from the first phase were nothing short of extraordinary. Ellandula Thirupathamma, a person of short stature, secured double the votes of the Congress-backed candidate and nearly ten times more votes than the nominee supported by the BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi). She received a total of 1,621 votes. Her triumph is amplified by the success of her entire panel; all 12 other candidates who contested as independents for ward member posts alongside her also won their elections.
"This is nothing short of a miracle. It is rare for an independent candidate to secure so many votes. It is even more rare that 12 of us won together," an elated Thirupathamma told reporters. The 50-year-old, born and brought up in Chinnapendyala in Chilpur mandal, faced personal attacks during her campaign, with opponents' supporters mocking her height. However, she channeled this negativity into strength. "I initially felt bad but it made me stronger and encouraged me to work harder to win the election," she stated.
Roots in the Community and a Door-to-Door Campaign
Thirupathamma's deep connection with her village was the cornerstone of her campaign. More than her own family, it was the villagers who urged her to run for office, citing her family's longstanding reputation for helping those in need. Earning about Rs 250 a day as a watcher tasked with watering plants, her daily work kept her in close contact with the community. "Most of them have known me since childhood... It is only because of them that I could win," she acknowledged.
Her campaign strategy was rooted in personal connection and persistence. She relied on intensive door-to-door visits followed up with phone calls to communicate directly with voters, bypassing the traditional machinery of political parties.
A Collective Front of Independents
Despite contesting as independents, Thirupathamma and the 12 winning ward members operated as a cohesive team. They held approximately six strategy meetings during the campaign to build a unified platform and gain public trust. Their focus was on pressing local issues that directly impacted villagers' lives.
"We made it clear that we would address issues such as waterlogging in low-lying areas and bad roads at the earliest," explained Srinivas Vemunuri, an independent candidate who is now a ward member and works as a village electrician. He highlighted the significance of their collective victory: "While anyone might be able to lobby and get support from political parties, our win proved that people are ready to vote for one of their own when candidates put up a collective front."
This electoral outcome in Jangaon district sends a powerful message about the potential of independent, community-anchored candidates to succeed against the might of established political parties, marking a significant moment for local governance in Telangana.
