Election buzz grips villages as local bodies’ polls loom

As the dust settles on the Lok Sabha elections, the focus now shifts to the impending local body elections, stirring up excitement and speculation in villages across the State. Reports circulating on the social media suggest that the State government is gearing up to hold elections for gram panchayats, mandal parishad territorial constituencies (MPTC) and zilla parishad territorial constituencies (ZPTC) in late June.
Even before the Lok Sabha election results are declared, leaders from major political parties including Congress, BRS, BJP, and independent candidates have been actively canvassing door-to-door for support in the villages. Many of these aspirants have been laying the groundwork for their local body election bids long before the national polls concluded.
In Ibrahimpatnam constituency, encompassing villages like Yacharam, Manchala and Abdullahpurmet, politicians and village heads are on high alert following rumours of the government’s plan to conduct elections for sarpanch, MPTC and ZPTC posts. They expressed confidence in their ability to contest and emerge victorious this time around.
Amidst this anticipation, there is suspense over the reservation of local bodies. With the recent change in government in Telangana, questions arise regarding whether the reservations implemented by the previous administration in 2019 will remain intact for two terms as promised by the former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
The incoming Congress-led government has sparked a debate over potential changes in these reservations, leading to increased caste mobilisation efforts by various parties.
Leaders aspiring to contest for sarpanch, ward members, MPTCs and ZPTCs have begun consultations with their followers in preparation for the local body elections. Many have been actively involved in grassroots campaigning since the Lok Sabha elections, expressing their commitment to the local struggle. They strategise to be competitive and are ready to stand for election if the reservations are in their favour, while others aim to consolidate their control over their respective areas.