The Telangana government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, is gearing up for local body elections, with plans to release the schedule in January and conduct polls in February. Preparations include an ongoing comprehensive family, political, and economic survey, which will help finalize BC reservations before the elections.
Amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act
To facilitate changes in the reservation system and address other governance issues, the government is reportedly considering amendments to the 2018 Panchayati Raj Act. Key proposed changes include:
1. Restoration of Joint Check Power: The 2018 Act shifted joint check power from the sarpanch and secretary to the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, causing conflicts that hindered village development. The government plans to revert the power to the sarpanch and secretary.
2. Changes to Reservation Policies: The two-term reservation policy, introduced in 2018, may be replaced with a single-term system to allow frequent rotation. The earlier system is believed to encourage more focused governance by elected representatives.
3. Removal of Collector’s Suspension Powers: The Act currently allows collectors to suspend elected sarpanches, a provision criticized for undermining democratic processes. The government is considering eliminating this authority to strengthen local governance.
4. Two-Child Rule Revision: The two-child restriction for contesting Panchayati elections, under Section 213 of the 2018 Act, contrasts with municipal laws, which have no such limitation. The government plans to align the policies by removing the two-child rule entirely.
Reservation Finalization and Legislative Action
Following the completion of the state survey, BC population data will be used to determine the reservation framework. The proposed amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act are expected to be introduced in the upcoming Assembly sessions.
The reforms are anticipated to streamline governance and ensure consistency in local body election policies. These developments have drawn widespread attention across Telangana as the state prepares for the elections.
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