It is likely that on 17 January, it would be decided as to which municipality and corporations should be allotted to which caste.
Published Jan 15, 2026 | 2:29 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 15, 2026 | 2:29 PM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Telangana government has notified reservation of wards and offices in 121 municipal councils and 10 corporations for upcoming urban local body polls. Based on the Dedication Commission’s report, quotas include 15% for SCs, 10% for STs, 25% for BCs, and 50% for women across categories. State Election Commission is expected to announce the poll schedule soon.
The Telangana government on Wednesday, 14 January, formally notified the reservation of wards and offices of chairpersons and mayors for the forthcoming elections to urban local bodies.
By Government Order (GO) No 14, dated 13 January, but released on 14 January, the Municipal Administration Department notified reservation of seats in 121 municipal councils and 10 municipal corporations, covering Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Backward Classes (BCs), women and general categories.
The government issued the notification based on the report submitted by the Dedication Commission. The Dedication Commission examined and recommended the quantum of reservation for backward classes in urban local bodies.
Scheduled Castes (SCs):
15 percent of seats and offices, or proportionate to their population, whichever applies
Scheduled Tribes (STs):
10 percent of seats and offices, proportionate to their population
Backward Classes (BCs):
25 percent of seats and offices
Women (horizontal reservation):
50 percent across all categories (SC, ST, BC and Unreserved)
The total reservation for SCs, STs and BCs together cannot exceed 50 percent, as mandated by constitutional limits and Supreme Court rulings.
The BC reservation of 25 percent is based on recommendations of the Dedication Commission, which is legally required to provide empirical data to justify BC quotas in local body elections.
Accordingly, of the total 10 municipal corporations. SCs and STs get one each, BCs get three (including one for women). There are four in the unreserved category including three for women.
Of the total 121 municipalities, 5 for STSs including 2 women, 17 for SCs including 8 for women, 38 for BCs including 19 women. In the unreserved category, of the 61, a total of 31 are reserved for women.
It is likely that on 17 January, it will be decided as to which municipality and corporations should be allotted to which caste.
The notification stated that the reservation exercise has been carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Telangana Municipalities Act, 2019, specifically under Sections 7, 28 and 29 of the Act. These sections deal with the reservation of seats in municipal councils, as well as the reservation of offices of chairpersons and mayors in municipalities and municipal corporations.
The publication of the reservation notification is seen as the beginning of subsequent steps for the conduct of the polls by the State Election Commission (SEC).
With the reservation framework now officially notified, attention is expected to shift to the announcement of the municipal election schedule. Senior officials indicated that the government and the SEC are keen to complete the electoral process at the earliest, bringing elected bodies back to urban local governance after a prolonged hiatus.
It is expected that the SEC will issue the schedule for the polls in a few days.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
