Telangana Gears Up for First Phase of Gram Panchayat Elections Amid Tight Security and Voter Readiness

Hyderabad, Dec 2025 : Telangana is set to hold the first phase of its gram panchayat elections on Thursday, with officials assuring a peaceful, free, and fair electoral process. Station Election Commissioner Rani Kumudini confirmed that all arrangements have been completed to facilitate smooth polling across the state.

Over 56 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots for 3,800 gram panchayats and 37,440 wards spread across 189 mandals. Polling will begin at 7 a.m., and counting of votes will commence immediately after the conclusion of voting. In total, 56,19,430 voters are eligible to participate in this first phase of elections, with 12,960 candidates contesting for sarpanch positions and 65,455 candidates in the fray for ward member posts. Notably, sarpanches for 395 gram panchayats have already been elected unanimously.

To facilitate voter participation, a holiday has been declared in all areas where polling is scheduled. The State Election Commission has set up 37,562 polling stations, supported by over one lakh trained polling personnel. Election officers have collected election material from designated reception centres, ensuring readiness for Thursday’s voting.

In over 3,000 gram panchayats, direct webcasting will be deployed to enable real-time monitoring of the polling process. This move aims to enhance transparency and instil confidence in the electoral exercise.

Security arrangements have been intensified, with more than 50,000 police personnel deployed to oversee the elections. Personnel from the Civil Police, Armed Reserve, Telangana State Special Police (TGSP), and staff from other departments, including Forest and Excise, have been mobilised to maintain law and order during polling. Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy emphasized that security measures have also been arranged at all counting centres, given that counting will begin immediately after polling concludes.

Election enforcement teams have actively monitored compliance, seizing cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and other inducements worth Rs 8.20 crore during the election process. Additionally, 229 FIRs have been registered for violations of the Model Code of Conduct, and 1,053 Non-Bailable Warrants, including recalled and freshly executed warrants, have been enforced. All licensed firearms of individuals under election security norms have been deposited as instructed.

To further strengthen monitoring, 54 inter-state border check posts have been established along Telangana’s borders with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. These posts operate round-the-clock to prevent the illegal movement of cash, liquor, weapons, and other prohibited materials. In addition, 537 flying squads and 155 static surveillance teams are actively patrolling the state to ensure compliance with election guidelines and maintain a peaceful polling environment.

The Prohibition and Excise Department has ordered the closure of liquor shops, bars, and restaurants serving alcohol in mandals going to polls until the completion of counting, ensuring that no inducements influence voters.

According to the State Election Commission, the gram panchayat elections will be conducted in three phases—December 11, 14, and 17—covering 12,728 sarpanch posts and 1,12,242 ward positions. In total, approximately 1.66 crore voters in Telangana’s rural areas are eligible to participate in this multi-phase electoral exercise.

With extensive security, voter outreach, and technology-assisted monitoring in place, Telangana aims to ensure a credible, transparent, and orderly first phase of its gram panchayat elections.