By: Syed Zia ur Rahman, YaHind.Com
Hyderabad, July 17, 2025 – Telangana is abuzz with preparations for the upcoming local body and Panchayat Raj elections, set to be a significant political event in the state. The Telangana State Election Commission, under the directive of the High Court, is working swiftly to meet the September 30, 2025, deadline for conducting these elections, which include Gram Panchayats, Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs).
The state government has finalized the delimitation process, confirming 31 Zilla Parishads, 566 ZPTCs, 566 Mandal Praja Parishads (MPPs), 5,773 MPTCs, and 12,778 Gram Panchayats with 1,12,694 wards. Nalgonda district leads with 353 MPTC seats, while Mulugu has the lowest at 83. This marks a slight reduction from the 2019 elections, attributed to rapid urbanization and the merger of some Gram Panchayats into municipalities, as per the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development department.
A key development is the state’s push to increase Backward Classes (BC) reservations to 42% in local bodies, fulfilling a Congress party promise from the 2023 Assembly elections. The Telangana Cabinet, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has sent a draft ordinance to amend the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma for approval. This ordinance, backed by a recent caste census showing 56.33% of the population as BCs, aims to enhance representation for these communities. The Governor is expected to review the ordinance, possibly seeking legal advice, with a decision anticipated soon.
The Congress government is intensifying efforts to strengthen its grassroots presence, with AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan urging the Panchayat Raj Sangathan to ensure victories for Congress-backed candidates. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), under new state president N. Ramchander Rao, is mobilizing workers to target the BC vote bank, aiming to challenge both Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in rural areas.
The state is also preparing a comprehensive village development plan, identifying priority tasks and seeking support from voluntary organizations to bolster rural infrastructure ahead of the polls. District collectors have been instructed to ensure all logistical arrangements, including statutory forms and equipment, are ready.
With the election notification expected within weeks, political parties are gearing up for a fierce contest. The outcome of these elections is seen as a critical test for all major players, shaping the political landscape ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. Stay tuned to YaHind.Com for the latest updates on Telangana’s local body elections.
