In Hyderabad, the clock began ticking for the upcoming Gram Panchayat polls when the nomination process kicked off Thursday. Across Telangana, aspirants now have until November 29 to submit their candidacies for the first sweep of elections that covers 4,326 villages and 37,459 wards. Those wishing to pull out can do so up to December 3, with nomination windows open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The first round will take place on December 11. Voting will run from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and vote‑counting is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. The Election Commission’s recent notice confirms that the state will hold elections on December 11, 14, and 17 to fill 12,728 sarpanch posts across 112,242 wards. State Election Commissioner I. Rani Kumudini declared an immediate enforcement of the model code of conduct statewide.
With roughly 1.66 crore rural voters eligible to go to the polls, there is heightened anticipation. For the next phase, nominations will open on November 30, with a December 6 cut‑off for withdrawals; the final phase’s nomination window spans from December 3 to December 9.
On November 17, the Telangana Cabinet resolved to hold only Gram Panchayat elections in December, citing a Rs 3,000‑crore grant that will expire on March 31 2026—coinciding with the end of the 15th Finance Commission’s term. If elections are delayed beyond the deadline, that central package would lapse.
Decisions on elections for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies, Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies, and municipal corporations will await the High Court’s definitive ruling regarding a 42 % reservation for Backward Classes. The Court’s order requires that total reservations across all local bodies not exceed 50 %. In line with this, the SEC has earmarked 17.08 % of seats in Gram Panchayats for BCs; out of 12,735 Panchayats, 2,176 fall under this reservation.
Among the 31 districts where elections are slated, Siddipet boasts the highest BC reservation ratio at 26.772 %, whereas Bhadradri Kothagudem has no BC‑reserved Panchayats.
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