Telangana Local Body Elections to Proceed With Old Reservation Cap, Confirms Minister Seetakka
The Telangana government has provided crucial clarity on the long-pending local body elections. Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Seetakka confirmed that the upcoming elections for local governing bodies will be conducted using the old reservation cap, dismissing all speculation regarding possible changes.
Addressing the media at Basvapur village in Bhikkanur mandal of Kamareddy district, the minister announced that the official election notification will be issued before December 11, setting the stage for the poll process to begin.
Panchayat Elections First, Followed by MPTC and ZPTC Polls
Minister Seetakka detailed the sequencing of the elections, stating that the gram panchayat elections will be conducted first. This will be followed by the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections.
She emphasised that the government is keen on completing the polls on time, noting that any further delay could result in central government funds allocated to village development lapsing by March 2026. These funds, she said, are critical for the implementation of ongoing rural development projects.
Old Reservation Pattern to Be Retained
In a significant clarification, Seetakka announced that the elections will follow the same reservation system introduced earlier during the BRS administration under former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).
The state government will implement 27% reservations.
The Congress party will allocate 42% reservations within its internal quota structure.
This decision effectively retains the earlier framework without any alterations, bringing stability and predictability to the election process.
Political Context and Party Preparedness
According to political insiders, the state government had earlier hesitated to conduct the elections due to uncertainty about the ruling party’s prospects at the grassroots level. However, the scenario shifted after the Congress party’s victory in the Jubilee Hills by-election, which boosted morale among party workers and leadership.
With renewed confidence and organisational strength, the ruling party now believes the timing is favourable for moving ahead with the local body elections.
The government’s announcement settles weeks of speculation surrounding reservation caps and election schedules. With the notification expected before December 11 and the decision to retain existing reservation norms, Telangana is gearing up for an intense phase of rural electoral activity in the coming months.Read more
