The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) has announced the schedule for voter list revisions in preparation for the upcoming panchayat elections. Ward-wise voter lists will be released on August 28, followed by district-level consultations with political parties on August 29 and mandal-level meetings on August 30. The SEC will accept objections from August 28 to 30, and the final voter list is slated for publication on September 2.
This development follows a key Telangana High Court ruling on June 25, which directed that local body elections be conducted by the end of September. The court instructed the government and SEC to complete ward delimitation and hold elections within 30 days. The current sarpanches’ tenure expires on January 31, 2024. Delays in conducting elections have led to petitions, with parties such as BRS and BJP highlighting administrative gaps and stalled development in villages.
At the same time, the 42 percent reservation for BCs in local bodies has become a contentious issue. Chief Minister K. Revanth Reddy and other Congress leaders recently protested in Delhi seeking central approval for the quota. The Congress has stated that if the central government does not approve, the party will implement the reservation independently. Reports suggest that the Revanth government may wait for clarity on this matter before proceeding with the elections.