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Hyderabad, Nov 17 (IANS) The Telangana Cabinet on Monday decided to hold gram panchayat elections only in December as the Rs 3,000 crore grant from the Center will expire by March 31, 2026.
The decision to hold elections for Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC), Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC) and municipal corporations will be taken after the final order of the High Court on 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs).
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy decided to hold only Gram Panchayat elections after the Praja Palan ceremony to mark the completion of two years of the Congress government.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy told media persons after the cabinet meeting that the functions would be held from December 1 to 9 and gram panchayat elections would be held any time thereafter.
He said that the tenure of the 15th Finance Commission is ending on March 31, 2026, so if elections are not held before the deadline, then the grant amount of Rs 3000 crore received from the Center to the Gram Panchayats will end.
The minister said that as per the High Court order, local body elections should be held with a cap of 50 per cent of total reservation for all categories.
He said that the government is committed to 42 percent reservation for BCs in local bodies. He said that the party will give 42 percent tickets to BC in the Gram Panchayat elections.
He told that the dedicated BC Commission had given the reservation list as per the decision to give 42 percent reservation to BC and on the basis of this the election process had also started.
However, since petitions were filed challenging the 42 percent reservation for BCs, the election process was suspended.
The Cabinet decided to seek a report from the dedicated BC Commission on reservation in the posts of Gram Panchayat Sarpanch and ward members.
He said that after the court gives the final order on 42 percent reservation, the cabinet will decide on holding MPTC, ZPTC elections.
The Cabinet expressed condolences on the demise of eminent Telugu poet Andesari, who wrote the state song “Jaya Jayahe Telangana”. This led to the decision to add the songs to school textbooks.
The cabinet also decided to build a memorial for Andesri and approved the job of assistant professor for his son.
–IANS
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