Telangana State Election Commissioner I. Rani Kumudini along with other officers addressed a media conference to announce the schedule for the 2nd regular elections to Gram Panchayats on Tuesday (November 25, 2025) | Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL
The State Election Commission (SEC) has released the much-awaited schedule for Gram Panchayat elections in Telangana.
Elections to 12,728 village panchayats and 1.12 lakh constituencies therein will be held in three phases on December 11, 14 and 17 and the election code of conduct will come into effect with immediate effect. More than 1.66 crore voters will decide the fate of candidates contesting the Gram Panchayat elections on a non-political basis.
Nominations for the first phase of elections will start from November 27, followed by nominations for the second phase from November 30 and December 3 for the final phase of elections. The last dates for submitting nominations are November 29, December 2 and 5 for the three phases.
Announcing the election schedule on Tuesday, State Election Commissioner Rani Kumudini said that elections are being held for all panchayats whose terms have already expired. However, elections were not held for 25 gram panchayats in Mangaapet mandal of Mulugu district, two gram panchayats of V. Saidapur mandal in Karimnagar district and four mandals of Enkoor and one GP Penuballi mandal in Khammam district, due to court orders and panchayats whose elections could not be held earlier.
Although the Commission had announced a schedule for elections on 29 September, they could not take place as the process was stayed by the court on 9 October.
The first phase would include elections to 4,236 Sarpanches and 37,440 corps members posts and the second phase would see polls for 4,333 Sarpanches and 38,350 corps members posts while elections would be held for 4,159 Sarpanches and 36,452 corps members posts.
The schedule ends the uncertainty that has dominated local polls since the government announced its decision to introduce 42% reservation for backward classes in local body elections.
The government passed two bills that paved the way for the introduction of the BC quota, but could not get the president’s assent. The ordinance facilitating quota increase was also shelved and the government had to opt for the old pattern of reservation for the elections.
However, the matter has drawn the ire of the opposition, as well as a section of the BC community, which has criticized the government for not taking robust action in issuing orders for increased reservations. As his proposals failed to materialise, the ruling Congress decided to accommodate BC candidates in general seats, keeping its promise to implement an increased quota for them.
Published – 25 Nov 2025 20:42 IST
