Telangana Cabinet Decides to Hold Only Gram Panchayat Elections in December

Hyderabad, Nov 2025 : The Telangana Cabinet on Monday decided that only Gram Panchayat elections will be conducted in December, as the ₹3,000-crore grant due from the Centre—tied to the 15th Finance Commission—will lapse on March 31, 2026, if the elections are not completed in time.

Chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the Cabinet resolved to proceed solely with Gram Panchayat polls while deferring decisions on elections to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs), and municipal corporations. These elections will be taken up only after the High Court delivers its final verdict on the issue of 42% reservations for Backward Classes (BCs).

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy briefed the media after the meeting, stating that the Gram Panchayat elections will be held after the conclusion of the Praja Palana celebrations, which will mark two years of the Congress government. The celebrations are scheduled from December 1 to 9, and polls are expected anytime thereafter.

Explaining the urgency, the minister said that if Gram Panchayat elections are not completed before March 2026, the substantial ₹3,000-crore grant from the Centre will lapse, causing a major financial setback for rural governance and development.

He noted that the High Court has mandated that local body elections must comply with the 50% cap on total reservations for all communities. Despite this, the state government remains committed to ensuring 42% representation for BCs. Accordingly, the Congress government intends to allocate 42% of its tickets to BC candidates in the upcoming Gram Panchayat elections.

Srinivas Reddy pointed out that the dedicated BC Commission had earlier submitted a reservation list aligned with the state’s decision to implement 42% reservation for BCs. Based on that list, the election process had commenced. However, following petitions challenging the enhanced BC quota, the process was halted pending judicial review.

The Cabinet has decided to seek a fresh report from the BC Commission regarding reservations for Gram Panchayat sarpanch and ward member posts. Decisions regarding MPTC and ZPTC elections will be finalized only after the High Court issues its final orders on the reservation matter.

During the meeting, the Cabinet also paid tribute to renowned Telugu poet Andesri, author of the state song “Jaya Jayahe Telangana.” It approved the inclusion of his songs in school textbooks, sanctioned the construction of a memorial in his honour, and approved an assistant professor position for his son as part of support to the family.