Telangana’s local body polls remain stalled due to legal hurdles over reservations. The government has now introduced two bills—seeking 42% BC quotas in local bodies, and extending similar benefits in education and jobs
Published Jul 31, 2025 | 12:05 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 31, 2025 | 12:05 AM
Congress gears up for Telangana local body polls amidst BC reservation row(Supplied)
Synopsis: Telangana’s Congress government is gearing up for long-pending local body elections, including polls for Panchayats, MPTCs, and ZPTCs. However, legal hurdles over proposed 42% BC reservations—clashing with the Supreme Court’s 50% quota cap—have stalled the process. The elections are seen as crucial for grassroots governance and consolidating the party’s presence at the village and mandal levels
The ruling Congress party in Telangana is preparing for the long-overdue local body elections, which include polls for Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads (MPTCs), and Zilla Praja Parishads (ZPTCs).
These elections, vital for strengthening grassroots governance and the growth of the party at ground level, have been delayed due to the ongoing legal and constitutional challenges surrounding the proposed 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs).
The crux of the delay lies in the Supreme Court’s directive capping total reservations at 50 percent. The Telangana government’s effort to increase BC quotas to 42 percent in local bodies has clashed with this legal ceiling, stalling the election process.
Amidst this deadlock, the Congress has mounted an aggressive campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of blocking key legislation aimed at uplifting the BC communities.
The party alleges that two crucial bills and an ordinance for amendment to the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, removing the 50 percent ceiling on reservations in local bodies, were sent to the President by the Telangana Governor but are yet to receive clearance, effectively stalling the state’s initiative.
The Congress contends that the BJP, by not facilitating the President’s assent to the bills and ordinance, is actively working against BC welfare. With the legal route seemingly exhausted, the party is now adopting a politically confrontational strategy to draw attention to what it calls the BJP’s obstructionist stance on social justice.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has hinted in the past that the Congress will go ahead and announce 42 percent of tickets for seats in the local body elections to the BCs, invoking moral justification. However, whether the Congress will remain firm or buckle under pressure from dominant caste groups seeking greater electoral representation in local bodies remains uncertain.
In an attempt to galvanize support and project itself as a BC-friendly party, the Congress has launched an intensive grassroots campaign. AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan will lead a week-long padyatra beginning 31 July, in the Parigi Assembly constituency, where she will stay overnight and engage with party workers. The padyatra will move to Andhol on August 2, Armuru on August 3, Khanapur (ST) on August 4, Choppadandi (SC) on August 5, and Wardhannapet on August 6.
The Congress is also scaling up the confrontation to the national stage. On 28 July, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced the state cabinet decision on a three-day agitation in Delhi from August 5 to 7. The protest will involve Congress MPs, Telangana legislators, and leaders from like-minded parties who will jointly submit a memorandum to the President demanding swift approval of the pending bills and the state ordinance.
The minister said: “Our government is committed to enhancing BC reservations, but the BJP is coming in the way.” The Congress high command views the protest not only as a step toward justice for BCs but also as a broader opportunity to paint the BJP as anti-BC, especially in the wake of the state’s proactive measures — conducting a caste census, establishing a dedicated BC Commission, passing bills, and issuing an ordinance to amend the Panchayat Raj Act.
The Telangana local body elections have remained on hold primarily due to the legal uncertainty surrounding the reservation issue. After several delays, the government finally introduced two bills — one for 42 percent BC reservations in local bodies and another extending similar quotas in education and employment. This apart, it came out with an ordinance to amend the Panchayat Raj Act to bypass the 50 percent cap and sent it to the Governor, who in turn sent it to the President. However, all three await Presidential approval, which appears unlikely.
Meanwhile, the Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) has completed all logistical preparations for the elections, including updating electoral rolls, finalizing polling stations, and printing ballot papers. Yet, in the absence of a legally sustainable reservation formula, the election process remains stalled.
The delay has had financial implications as well. The term of Gram Panchayats expired on January 31, 2024, and that of Zilla and Mandal Parishads in July 2024. As a result, the state has been unable to access central development grants, losing an estimated ₹1,500 crore annually.
Telangana’s rural political landscape comprises 12,815 Gram Panchayats with 1.14 lakh wards and a rural electorate of 1.67 crore. There are 538 ZPTC and 5,817 MPTC positions up for grabs. The Congress, confident after conducting a caste census and initiating legislative steps for BC empowerment, is looking to convert that goodwill into electoral advantage.
The party is also in the process of releasing a local body election manifesto focusing on key rural issues such as infrastructure, sanitation, and quality of life. The upcoming elections are expected to be a triangular contest involving the Congress, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the BJP — each vying to assert dominance in the state’s crucial local governance space.
The stakes are high for all the three parties, mainly for the Congress. The local body elections have emerged as a referendum on caste justice, governance delivery, and party credibility. It remains to be seen to what extent the ruling party would win the trust of the voters.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
