Latest news with #PanchayatRajAct
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt may advance local polls in Telangana amid early monsoon, kharif sowing
Hyderabad: With the monsoon arriving 15 days ahead of schedule and kharif sowing already underway, the Congress govt is considering advancing the panchayat elections , originally planned for the end of July. The elections, likely to be held in two phases, will be the first major political test for chief minister A Revanth Reddy after the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Sensing an opportunity to consolidate its rural base, the Congress is moving swiftly. It aims to cover all eligible farmers with Rythu Bharosa financial aid, clear pending gram panchayat bills, and roll out Rajiv Vikasam self-employment assistance to rural youth. The govt has already extended 21,000 crore in interest-free loans to women's self-help groups—primarily in rural areas—a key constituency in these elections. Though panchayat polls are technically non-party contests, they are fought fiercely along party lines. With 12,800 gram panchayats and over 1.2 lakh ward seats up for grabs, the Congress is keen to send a strong message to both the BJP and BRS by aiming to win 70–80% of the seats. A senior Congress leader said the party will support 42% of gram panchayat candidates from the BC community, in line with CM Revanth's promise made during the passage of the two bills providing 42% reservation for BCs in education, employment, and local bodies. "We will tell voters that the (Narendra) Modi govt is stalling the BC bills and highlight the BRS's internal rifts. Local-level alliances may be left to candidates depending on ground realities," the leader added. Under the Panchayat Raj Act, the State Election Commission requires formal consent from the state govt to conduct elections. This approval depends on the state govt's ability to provide adequate police deployment and logistical support to ensure free and fair elections. The Congress is also banking on organisational readiness. Party sources say the AICC is expected to finalise all new TPCC teams, including working presidents, vice-presidents, general secretaries, and campaign committee members, before the panchayat poll schedule is announced. Appointments at the district, block, mandal, and village levels are also in the pipeline. Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 crore in central grants under the Finance Commission has been withheld due to the absence of elected local bodies. Conducting these polls could unlock those funds, adding further urgency to the Congress's electoral push.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Gazette notification gives room for early panchayat polls
Rajamahendravaram: There are growing indications that Panchayat elections may be conducted earlier than scheduled, possibly as soon as September. Although the current term of the Gram Panchayats officially ends in March 2026, the Panchayat Raj Act permits elections to be held up to five months in advance. Observers believe the State government may use this provision to go to the polls early. The previous round of panchayat elections was held in February 2021, with the governing bodies taking charge from April 1 of that year. The YSR Congress Party secured over 90 percent of the panchayats during that round. However, allegations arose that the ruling party misused its power to block opposition candidates from filing nominations, raising questions about the fairness of the process. In a move that strengthens the possibility of early elections, officials have begun the process of notifying the gram panchayats across the region. On Thursday, Kakinada District Collector and United District nodal officer Sagili Shan Mohan issued a gazette notification confirming the total number of gram panchayats in the erstwhile East Godavari district as 1,102. This figure was finalised after including newly formed panchayats, merged mandals, and those integrated into urban local bodies. The notification was issued based on the directions of the State Panchayat Raj Commissioner. In 2010, the district had 1012 gram panchayats divided into five grades based on population and revenue. After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, four mandals from Khammam district were merged into East Godavari. Later, in 2020, new panchayats were formed. Special notifications were issued creating 35 new gram panchayats, while eight were converted into municipalities or merged with urban bodies. As part of this reorganisation, 63 panchayats from Kunavaram, Chintur, VR Puram, and Yetapaka mandals were added to East Godavari. In 2010, the panchayats were categorised into five grades based on population and revenue, but now, a move towards a three-grade system is being discussed. Currently, smaller panchayats are being administered in clusters of two or three.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Siddaramaiah tells officials to place recommendations of district and taluk planning bodies in pre-Budget meetings
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday told the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission and the Karnataka State Decentralised Planning and Development Committee to place the recommendations of the taluk- and district-level planning committees in the pre-Budget meetings. The Chief Minister chaired a meeting of the two bodies and said taluk- and district-level planning committees need to be strengthened to further empower the Panchayat Raj system and to formulate schemes as per the requirements of people. Elections not held The District Planning Committees (DCP) and Taluk Planning Committees (TPC) have apparently become ineffective as elections have not been held for zilla and taluk panchayats. Currently, the district in-charge Ministers chair the meeting of these committees. Mr. Siddaramaiah said he had announced in the State Budget for 2023-24 that responsibility mapping had to be done regarding the functioning of Panchayat Raj organisations as per the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution. Responsibility mapping Accordingly, the Rural Development Department has prepared a responsibility map for 13 departments, out of which the responsibility maps for the functioning of nine departments, including Health, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Welfare, Backward Classes and Minority Welfare, Agriculture, Watershed Development, Horticulture, and Sericulture have been notified. However, responsibility mapping of Women and Child Welfare, Education, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries departments was not notified so far, he said. The Chief Minister directed officials to complete the responsibility mapping of all departments by this August 15. He instructed the officials to submit a proposal to the government regarding the Revenue and Panchayat Raj departments' decisions on re-surveying villages and fixing boundaries. He also instructed the officials to submit proposals for establishing a land bank to develop infrastructure for urban and rural local bodies. Noting that people's involvement was important in the decentralisation, he said public opinions should be respected. Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission B.R. Patil had been told to tour the State regularly to understand the ground situation, the Chief Minister said. Mr. Patil told officials to adopt a bottom-up approach while formulating plans and schemes for the benefit of the needy. Decentralisation needed Mr. Siddaramaiah said he was in favour of decentralisation, and rural local bodies need to be empowered. He instructed officials to ensure implementation of the reservation in urban and rural local bodies as per the provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, chairman of the Fifth Finance Commission and former MP C. Narayanaswamy, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, and senior officials attended the meeting.
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
National Panchayat Raj Day celebrated
Ongole: National Local Government Chamber and Andhra Pradesh Gram Swaraj Sadhana Samiti jointly celebrated the National Panchayat Day 2025 here on Thursday. Dr Nukasani Balaji, Prakasam district Telugu Desam Party President and Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), attended the celebrations as the chief guest. The programme included discussions on various aspects of village development and featured a special seminar on strengthening the Panchayat Raj system. Dr Balaji highlighted the achievements made through the Panchayat Raj Act and stressed the need for effective implementation of local self-governance, noting that village development is possible through local leadership and that Sarpanches play a crucial role in implementing government schemes. During the event, Dr Balaji presented awards and certificates of appreciation to Sarpanches from across the district, who had provided exemplary services. Ongole Mayor Gangada Sujata, District Sarpanch Association Founding President Veerabhadra Chari, General Secretary Vasanta, District Secretary Rajamma, executive committee member Ramesh, other leaders, and numerous Sarpanches and public representatives from various mandals throughout the district participated in the programme.
