Another electoral showdown is on the horizon in Telangana, with discussions among officials suggesting that elections for approximately 13,000 Village Panchayats may take place soon. Plans are underway to conduct local body elections by the first week of July.
The term of the current Sarpanchs expired in February of last year, resulting in the Panchayats being managed by special officers ever since. Previously, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had announced that elections for Mandal and Zilla Parishads would follow the parliamentary elections. However, due to uncertainties regarding reservations and other pertinent issues, the government has yet to initiate the process for local body elections.
No funds, Pending Bills…Development Neglected
Governance in the Panchayats has devolved into chaos, exacerbated by prolonged financial shortages and a lack of oversight from special officers. This situation has led to rising discontent among the public towards the government. Local Congress leaders, having recently returned to power after a decade, are eager to secure positions, with many eyeing roles such as Sarpanch, MPTC, ZPTC, Mandal President, and Zilla Parishad Chairman at both Village and Mandal levels. Reports indicate that the government is accelerating plans for elections to address the mounting dissatisfaction among party leaders and the public.
Dilemma over Six Guarantees
Furthermore, the Congress party, which had made six key promises, “Six Guarantees” before the elections, has largely failed to deliver on all but one or two, drawing increasing criticism for its inability to implement these commitments. Ruling party leaders are grappling with how to respond to this situation. They believe that if local elections are conducted and party members occupy local positions, they can craft narratives that may ease public discontent.
Focus On PCC & Cabinet Expansion
Ahead of the Panchayat elections, the Congress government has focused on expanding the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), expanding the state Cabinet, and settling outstanding bills. The PCC and Cabinet expansions are almost finalized, and the pending bills related to the Villages have already been addressed. Additionally, government schemes are being rolled out swiftly, which appears to bolster election preparations. With the key cabinet expansion now complete, the government is turning its attention to local contests. In line with this, the State Election Commission has instructed district collectors to commence preparations for the election process.
Officials Are Ready…
Recently, the Commission has initiated essential activities that include training and other necessary logistics to ensure readiness for the elections at any time. Training sessions for data entry operators will be held at the MCR HRD center in Hyderabad to facilitate the compilation and preparation of the voter lists for the 12,769 village Panchayats in the state. The upcoming elections will take place in over 13,000 villages statewide, including the newly formed Panchayats.
42% Reservation for BCs
The Congress party has incorporated a proposal in its manifesto to implement a 42 percent Reservation for Backward Classes (BCs), as well as to allocate reservations based on sub-castes. Actions are being taken to finalize reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Backward Classes (BCs) locally in rural bodies, guided by the BC Caste Census. As the Bill for the 42 percent Reservation for BCs remains pending, it will be intriguing to see the government's response.
Uncertainty regarding the reservation process could lead to ambiguities in the election schedule. The State Election Commission is preparing to conduct elections without any legal hurdles, resulting in the anticipation of an official announcement. It is advised that the combined total of reservations for SCs, STs, and BCs does not surpass 50 percent.
Reports indicate that the State Election Commission is poised to hold Gram Panchayat, Zilla, and Mandal Parishad elections within 15 to 20 days following the finalization of reservations and the announcement of election details.
Impact on Election Results
The upcoming Local Body Election provides voters a chance to voice their opinions regarding the present government's performance. Local development initiatives, the effectiveness of MLAs, and MLCs. And MPs in executing programs and the leadership qualities of local representatives, and the party leaders are expected to influence the election outcomes significantly. These elections will reveal the extent of growing public discontent with the Congress government, as assessed by the opposition.
