The villagers clandestinely conducted a poll with a ballot paper with different symbols and a pot used as ballot box and seal to choose the best candidate from their village.

A total of 453 ballot papers were given to villagers. They waited in queue and cast their ballots into a silver pot on Thursday in the presence of a local man, who acted as a Returning Officer, sources said.

Revenue officials on information rushed to the village and stopped the proceedings and seized the illegal polling materials. Investigations revealed that 134 ballot papers were cast into the silver pot by that time.

Ramanathapuram Collector K Veera Raghava Rao said after the issue came to the knowledge, the Revenue officials intervened and stopped the illegal conduct of such polls. The seized materials were handed over to Uthirakosamangai police, who filed a case. Further, the Collector said it is undemocratic and the guilty would not be spared.