Telangana gears up for local body elections; numbers of ZPTC, MPTCs finalised
As per official figures, there will be a total of 566 MPP and ZPTC seats, and 5,773 MPTC seats in the upcoming polls. The number of Gram Panchayats has been confirmed as 12,778, while the total number of wards stands at approximately 1.12 lakh.
Local body elections were previously held only once in 2019, after the formation of the State in 2014. At that time, there were 570 MPP and ZPTC seats, 5,817 MPTC seats and 12,848 Gram Panchayats. With several Gram Panchayats having been merged with municipalities and municipal corporations, the number of GPs has come down, said an official.
In a memo issued on Tuesday by the Director of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development G. Srijana, all District Collectors, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), and District Panchayat Officers (DPOs) have been instructed to initiate immediate preparations. These include verifying and maintaining election materials supplied last year and procuring other essential materials locally with the approval of the District Purchase Committees.
The Panchayat Raj department has directed that all necessary arrangements, including the supply and verification of statutory and non-statutory forms, seals, covers and handbooks be completed without delay.
The High Court of Telangana has mandated that the election process be concluded by September 30. Acting on this directive, the State administration has intensified efforts to complete preparations well ahead of the deadline.
Ms. G. Srijana has also cautioned officials that any deviation from the instructions or delay in readiness will be viewed seriously, and the concerned officers will be held accountable. Meanwhile, an ordinance to provide 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections has reportedly been forwarded to the Governor for his approval. The reservations in each district will be finalised by the Dedicated Commission on BC Quota after receiving the Governor's assent.
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Hans India
20 minutes ago
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 26th July 2025
Rahul certification is no Oscar or Nobel, Mr Revanth Reddy This is in reference to 'Revanth pushes for 42% BC quota'(THI, July 25). I am intrigued by the Catch-22 situation that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy finds himself in as regards proving 42 per cent reservation for BCs in education, employment and local body elections. Honouring this has become inevitable for his government as it is a promise made by Rahul Gandhi at the Kamareddy public meeting held in September 2023, in the run-up to the Assembly elections. However, it is not easy to get approval for 42 percent reservation for BCs, as the onus is on the NDA-led central government. If Revanth Reddy fails to accomplish it, then he, his 'mentor' and the Congress party will lose the trust of the BCs. This apart, Reddy has coined an acronym RaRe (Rahul and Revanth) and an abbreviation SEEEPC (Social, Education, Employment, Economic, Political, Caste) for his survey. He gave a power point presentation to the party functionaries in Delhi, for which he was given a letter of appreciation. He feels as if it is equivalent to an Oscar or the Nobel Prize. To me it looks like narcissism and sycophancy. Being a junior, one must be loyal but not stoop too low as flattery could lead the system towards destruction. The 42 per cent reservation for BCs will an acid test for Revanth Reddy, who is stranded between the devil and the deep sea. Dr. Venkat Yadav Avula State spokesperson MASS India-UK FTA is welcome news It is with reference to the news 'India, UK ink historic FTA' (THI July 25). While the US-India trade relationship faces significant challenges with tariffs and market access, India's Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with the UK is a well-timed move. The free trade agreement will primarily reduce import duties, potentially making certain British goods are affordable for India's consumers and businesses. While some sectors like automobiles are seeing reduced tariffs, there are also concerns about potential impacts on domestic industries and job losses due to increased competition. The agreement may bring huge benefits to both countries and in the process boost wages and raise the living standards. Beyond reducing tariffs, it facilitates smoother customs processes, enhances mobility and creates new opportunities in government procurement and digital trade. Careful monitoring and proper implementing of the agreement is crucial to ensure that the benefits are maximised. P. Victor Selvaraj, Tirunelveli-627002 FTA is a major boost for Indian industry As India and U.K. ink a comprehensive Free Trade Pact (FTA) that promises to reshape trade, talent exchange and industrial collaboration between the two nations is historic because it will give big fillip to bilateral trade that would accrue a substantial revenue to us annually. At a time, when global economies are recalibrating trade agreements, this pact will provide strategic advantage to both nations besides coming as a boon to Indian manufactures and exporters. By and large, granting zero duty access of tariff to virtually the entire trade value, it is certain to go a long way in giving a boost to MSME enterprises, the backbone of rural and semi-urban economies. Additionally, exempting Indian workers and employers from social security contributions in U.K. for three years will help to play big in global trade and goes to show that the pact opens the doors for Indian professionals to access one of the world's most advanced service economies. K R Srinivasan, Secunderabad-3 India stands to gain from FTA with UK the bilateral trade between India and the United Kingdo is set to get a more than $34 billion annual boost over the long-term following their free trade agreement, with leaders from the two countries calling it a 'historic' deal. Both sides had finalised the trade pact in May after three years of intense negotiations — marked by thorny issues such as visas, tariff reduction and tax breaks. The talks gained momentum, and the two governments accelerated the pace to seal the deal when U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats sent the world in disarray. India has secured market access in key job-creating sectors such as textiles, footwear, gems and jewellery and marine products — where the UK is set to eliminate duties by up to 20 per cent and eliminating duties for almost 99.7 per cent of tariff lines in India's food sector. New Delhi extracted enhanced market access in export-oriented sectors such as marine and animal products, including seafood, dairy, and meat products, with tariffs reduced to zero from up to 20 per cent. Mani Ramani Jayanthy, Mumbai
Hans India
20 minutes ago
- Hans India
Polls to local bodies: State govt in a dilemma as HC deadline on quota ends
Hyderabad: With the one-month time set by the Telangana High Court for submission of the list of wards reserved for SCs, STs and BCs ending on Thursday, and with the draft ordinance providing 42 per cent quota for BCs being referred to the Union Ministry of Home affairs by the Governor, the State government is clueless on how to proceed with the conduct of elections to local bodies. As a way out, the state government is likely to file a counter on the High Court's direction citing valid reasons for the delay in the conduct of elections, considering the approval of the ordinance on 42 per cent BC quota is pending. On June 25, the High Court directed the government i.e. the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct panchayat polls within three months. Justice T. Madhavi Devi, pronouncing verdict in a batch of writ petitions filed by former sarpanches of six different village panchayats of the State, instructed the government to prepare the lists of voters and reservations for different categories like women and Backward Classes within a month from the date of receiving the judgement copy. The judge also directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to convene the polls to local bodies within two months of receiving all the details pertaining to voters list and reservations. The court mandated that the state government and the State Election Commission (SEC) complete the elections by September 30, rejecting claims that additional time was needed to initiate the election process. The judge emphasized the necessity of completing the division of wards within 30 days and ensuring the election process is finalized by the stipulated date. The Court also directed the state government to provide the list of voters to the SEC along with the particulars of modified wards in line with the delimitation exercise within a month. Top officials said that government was waiting for a reply from the Governor's office on the pending approval of the ordinance, after the President had put the state's request to give her assent to two acts regarding the enhancement of BC quota in cold storage. The government was in dilemma as the deadline set by the court was over. 'The state government is not ready to go for elections to local bodies without the enhancement of the BC quota. The only option is to seek the Court's intervention and direct the constitutional functionaries mainly the President and Governor to take a call on the pending approval of bills and ordinance', sources said. So, legal experts have been requested to explore options to resolve the BC quota issue with the intervention of the judiciary to help hold the panchayat elections by September end. Sources said that the State Advocate General will apprise the High Court of the status of the bills and seek some more time for the conduct of elections to local bodies. The issue will be discussed in the upcoming Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet will take a call on whether the government should concur with the SEC to hold the elections without enhancing BC quota or launch a fight against the Centre for its delaying tactics in the approval of ordinance providing 42 per cent quota for BCs.
United News of India
5 hours ago
- United News of India
Telangana led way in caste census, BJP trying to derail BC empowerment: Ponnam Prabhakar
New Delhi/Hyderabad, July 25 (UNI) Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Friday said the Congress government in Telangana has taken decisive steps to implement a caste census despite not being in power at the Centre, and condemned BJP leaders for attempting to undermine the process. Speaking to the media at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi after a meeting with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, Prabhakar said Rahul Gandhi had emphasised the need for a caste census during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and promised to implement it if voted to power. Telangana, he said, took the lead by initiating the caste census on February 4, 2024. Despite delays due to the Lok Sabha elections, the state government successfully completed the enumeration with 3.5 crore people voluntarily participating. The collected data, comprising over 80 crore documents, was digitised, reviewed by a subcommittee, and approved by the state cabinet. The resulting legislation to implement 42 per cent reservation for BCs in education and local bodies was passed and sent to the Governor, and later to the President for approval on April 30, 2025. Prabhakar slammed Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and BJP leaders for opposing the bill and accused them of betraying the Backward Classes. 'What has BJP done more than us for BCs? Instead of supporting this historic move, they are trying to spread misinformation and dilute our efforts,' he said, citing BJP's past opposition to the Mandal Commission and social justice policies. He also questioned why BJP, while claiming to support BCs, failed to appoint a BC as the Leader of the Opposition in Telangana or maintain BC leadership in their own party. 'Our Congress party stands as the brand ambassador of social justice. We are not blaming any party, but facts must be examined,' he said. He urged BJP leaders to stop creating divisions and instead support the caste census and reservations for BCs. 'This is not just about Telangana, but a nationwide movement to ensure social justice,' he said, reiterating the Congress' commitment to fight for the rights of weaker sections. Ministers Konda Surekha and Vakiti Srihari were also present during the interaction. UNI VV ARN
