"gram-panchayat-elections"

The Panchayat Raj and Rural Employment Department in Telangana has established a dedicated legal cell to handle court cases related to gram panchayat elections.Three Superintendents have been deployed to assist exclusively with election-related cases.

On the opening day of nominations for the first phase of gram panchayat elections in Telangana, 3,242 nominations were filed for panchayats and 1,821 for wards, totalling 5,063. Yadadri Bhongir district recorded the highest number of nominations at 209.

The Congress government in Telangana has allotted only 45.41 percent of gram panchayat seats to women, falling short of the mandated 50 percent under the Panchayat Raj Act. This is lower than the 49.09 percent extended by the previous BRS government in 2019.

In Sangareddy, most gram panchayats along NH-65, NH-161 and other major roads have been placed under the open category in the upcoming elections, limiting opportunities for backward classes. These panchayats, known for real estate ventures, industries and illegal sand mining, are seen as lucrative hubs for local leaders.

The nomination process for the first phase of gram panchayat elections commenced in Khammam and Kothagudem districts on Thursday. A total of 192 gram panchayats and 1,740 wards in Khammam, and 159 gram panchayats with 1,436 wards in Kothagudem, have been notified.

BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar defended the Congress government’s efforts to extend 42 percent reservations for Backward Classes, blaming BJP and BRS for obstructing the move. He said the Supreme Court’s directions prevented implementation despite the party’s commitment.

K.T. Rama Rao criticised the Congress government over the revised BC reservation pattern for gram panchayat polls, alleging it reduced the quota to 17 per cent despite promising 42 per cent. He also questioned the Rs 160-crore caste census expenditure and highlighted district-level disparities.

The Congress government in Telangana has come under fire for offering only 17 percent reservations to Backward Classes (BCs) in panchayat elections, despite promising 42 percent in its Kamareddy Declaration. A GO Ms 9 providing 42 percent quota was stayed by the High Court, citing the Supreme Court’s 50 percent cap on reservations.

The State Election Commission (SEC) has announced gram panchayat elections in Telangana to be held in three phases on December 11, 14, and 17. The Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect across 12,728 panchayats, excluding 32 under High Court stay orders.

As the Congress government prepares for Praja Palana celebrations, former Sarpanches in Telangana have announced protests at Gram Panchayat Offices from December 1 to 9, demanding clearance of pending bills worth Rs 531 crore and implementation of 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in panchayat elections.

The Telangana government has issued new reservation guidelines for Gram Panchayat elections through GO Ms 46, ensuring quotas stay within the 50% limit. The High Court will resume hearing the matter on Monday, with the election schedule likely on November 25 or 26

The Telangana State Election Commission has announced a detailed schedule for the preparation and republication of ward-wise photo electoral rolls ahead of the Gram Panchayat elections. District Panchayat Officers have been instructed to rectify voter mis-mapping and incorporate valid changes before final publication.

The Congress government in Telangana announced the distribution of one crore Indiramma sarees to women across the State, beginning Wednesday. The scheme, timed with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, will be rolled out in two phases, villages by December 9 and urban areas from March 1 to 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day.

Former Minister V Srinivas Goud and ex-MLA Jaipal Yadav criticised the Congress government for failing to implement its promise of 42 percent reservations for backward classes in gram panchayat elections. They alleged that the move would reduce the quota to 23 percent, calling it a grave injustice.

Backward Classes organisations criticised the Congress government for opting for party-based 42% reservations in upcoming Gram Panchayat elections, calling it a betrayal and legally unsound. With court cases pending and Panchayat polls traditionally non-partisan, critics warned of protests and accused Congress of misleading BC communities

The Forum for Good Governance has urged the State Election Commission to conduct long-pending Gram Panchayat elections in Telangana. FGG president M Padmanabha Reddy cited legal clarity from courts and criticised the SEC for seeking government permission, despite having constitutional authority.

Telangana’s rural local body elections, including Gram Panchayat, MPTC, and ZPTC, will be held in five phases from October 23 to November 8. Nominations and withdrawals have specific dates, and the Model Code of Conduct is now in effect.

The Telangana State Election Commission has announced that the final ward-wise photo electoral rolls for all gram panchayats will be published on September 2. Draft rolls will be released on August 28, with objections accepted until August 30

SEC will complete election preparations and convene an all-party meeting to ensure that there is no delay in conducting the elections after the BC reservations are approved.

With the Telangana High Court directing local body polls by September 30 and Presidential assent still pending, the proposed 42 per cent BC quota is unlikely to be implemented. The Congress may still use it as a political card in the election