The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued the much-awaited schedule for Gram Panchayat elections in Telangana.
Elections to 12,728 village panchayats and 1.12 lakh wards within them will be held in three phases on December 11, 14 and 17, and the election code of conduct will come into force with immediate effect. Over 1.66 crore voters will decide the fate of candidates contesting the Gram Panchayat elections on a non-political basis.
Nominations for the first phase of elections will start from November 27 followed by those for the second phase from November 30 and December 3 for the final phase of elections. The last dates for filing nominations are November 29, December 2 and 5 for the three phases, respectively.
State Election Commissioner Rani Kumudini, who announced the election schedule on Tuesday, said that elections were being held for all the panchayats, whose term of office had expired already. Elections were however, not being held for 25 Gram Panchayats in Mangaapet mandal of Mulugu district, two Gram Panchayats of V. Saidapur mandal in Karimnagar district, and four of Enkoor mandal and one GP of Penuballi mandal in Khammam district, due to orders of the courts and the panchayats whose elections could not be conducted earlier due to various reasons.
Though the Commission had announced the schedule for the elections on September 29, they could not be held as the process was stayed by the court on October 9.
The first phase would feature election to 4,236 Sarpanch and 37,440 ward member posts and the second phase would see polls to 4,333 Sarpanch and 38,350 ward members posts, while elections would be held for 4,159 Sarpanch and 36,452 ward member posts.
The schedule brings to an end uncertainty prevailing over the local body polls ever since the government announced its resolve to implement 42% reservations to Backward Classes in the local body elections.
Government passed two Bills paving the way for implementation of BC quota, but they could not receive the assent of the President. An ordinance facilitating the enhanced quota too was set aside and the government had to opt for the old reservation pattern for the elections.
The issue however, drew the ire of the Opposition, as well as a section of BC communities which criticised the government for not taking foolproof measures in issuing orders for enhanced reservations. With its proposals not materialising, the ruling Congress has decided to accommodate BC candidates in the general seats keeping its promise of implementing enhanced quota for them.
Published – November 25, 2025 08:42 pm IST
