The State government has decided to conduct gram panchayat elections, fought on a non-political basis, while keeping in abeyance elections to MPTC, ZPTC and other local body posts until legal issues surrounding the 42% reservation for backward classes are resolved.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday. The Cabinet discussed in detail the next steps for local body elections after the Supreme Court refused to vacate the Telangana High Court’s stay on the ordinance enabling 42% reservation for Backward Class communities.
The Cabinet noted that delaying village panchayat elections until the end of the financial year could lead to the lapse of ₹3,000 crore in grants sanctioned by the XV Finance Commission. “The Cabinet has therefore decided to conduct gram panchayat elections to avoid lapsing of the funds,” Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said.
The government’s efforts to enhance reservations for Backward Classes have run into legal hurdles. Bills passed by the Legislature are still awaiting the Governor’s approval, prompting the State to issue an ordinance increasing the quota. However, the ordinance was also challenged in court, and the High Court stayed its implementation. The State then approached the Supreme Court seeking to vacate the stay, but its plea was dismissed.
As a result, the Cabinet resolved to go ahead with gram panchayat elections. “Elections to mandal and zilla parishads, as well as municipal bodies where polls are conducted on party symbols will be held once the legal issues are finalised,” he said.
SRSP stage-II to be named after Damodar Reddy
The State Cabinet approved the proposal for naming the SRSP stage-II after senior leader R. Damodar Reddy. The approval follows the Chief Minister’s assurance at the Ramreddy Damodar Reddy memorial meeting that the project would be named after him in recognition of the immense services he rendered for Nalgonda district.
Jaya Jayahe on first page of textbooks
The Cabinet also paid tributes to Andesri, author of the State’s anthem Jaya Jayahe Telangana, and decided to appoint his son Datta Sai as an assistant professor in the government-run degree college. A proposal for development of smruti vanam (memorial) for Andesri had been cleared and the government has resolved to ensure that Jaya Jayahe Telangana song is displayed on the first page of textbooks henceforth.
Published – November 17, 2025 11:17 pm IST
