Hyderabad: The Telangana government’s GO 46 has once again come into focus as the state moves ahead with preparations for the upcoming local body elections. The order specifies that reservations for SC, ST, and BC communities in Panchayat Raj institutions must not exceed 50%, in line with repeated directions from the Supreme Court and High Court. The government has confirmed that the earlier 2019 reservation roster will continue without modifications, citing legal and administrative constraints. The move comes as officials begin finalizing constituency-wise reservation lists ahead of the election notification scheduled for November 26.
Despite efforts to create a revised reservation framework, progress has stalled due to incomplete demographic assessments and pending legal processes. A dedicated committee was formed to scientifically review reservations based on updated population data, social ratios, and category-wise representation. However, the committee’s report remains pending, and key ordinances—including proposals allowing repeated reservations for the same constituency—have not received approval. As a result, GO 46 has not been fully enforced and will not apply for the upcoming elections.
The decision to continue with the 2019 roster is expected to influence grassroots-level political strategies, with many candidates and parties already recalculating their prospects. Political analysts suggest that retaining earlier reservation patterns may benefit incumbent leaders or previous contestants who were aligned with those categories. In many villages, internal political alignments have reportedly begun, as the unchanged reservation structure gives clarity to potential candidates earlier than expected.
Meanwhile, the dedicated committee continues work on a long-term reservation reform plan, which could impact future elections beyond 2030. Its scope includes drafting a new reservation roster, reassessing community representation using updated demographic data, and ensuring compliance with constitutional norms. The report—once completed and approved—could reshape reservation patterns across village, mandal, district, municipal, and corporation bodies. Until then, the Telangana government will conduct the 2025 Panchayat elections under the existing 2019 reservation format, marking a temporary but legally compelled continuation of earlier policy.