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The Telangana Cabinet on Monday, November 17, decided to conduct only Gram Panchayat elections in December as a Rs 3000 crore grant due from the Union government would lapse by March 31, 2026 if the polls are not held.
With the move to provide a 42% quota for BCs in local bodies challenged in court, and the High Court directing local body elections to be held with a 50% cap on total reservation for all sections, the Cabinet announced that the Congress at the party level will give 42% tickets to BCs.
The decision on conducting elections for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and municipal corporations will be taken after the High Court’s final orders on 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs).
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy decided to conduct only Gram Panchayat elections after Praja Palana celebrations to mark two years of the Congress government.
The celebrations will be organised from December 1 to 9, and the Gram Panchayat elections will be held anytime after that, Minister for Revenue Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy told media persons after the Cabinet meeting.
He said that as the term of the 15th Finance Commission is coming to an end on March 31, 2026, the Rs 3000 crore grant that Gram Panchayats have to get from the Union government will lapse if the elections are not held before the deadline.
The minister said as per the High Court’s directions, the local body elections have to be held with a 50% cap on total reservation for all sections.
He said that the government is committed to 42% reservation for BCs in the local bodies. He said in the Gram Panchayat elections, the party would give 42% tickets to BCs.
He pointed out that the dedicated BC Commission had given a reservation list as per the decision to provide 42% reservation to BCs, and based on this, the election process had also started.
However, as petitions were filed challenging 42% reservations for BCs, the election process was suspended.
The Cabinet decided to seek a report from the dedicated BC Commission on reservations in the posts for Gram Panchayat sarpanch and ward members.
He said the Cabinet will decide on conducting MPTC, ZPTC polls after the court pronounces its final orders on 42% reservation.
The Cabinet mourned the death of eminent Telugu poet Andesri, who penned the state song “Jaya Jayahe Telangana”. It decided to add the songs to school textbooks.
The Cabinet also decided to build a memorial for Andesri and also approved the job of an assistant professor for his son.