Elected Gram Panchayats Are Back in Telangana

Hyderabad:With newly elected sarpanches and ward members taking oath, elected gram panchayats were constituted across Telangana on Monday after a gap of nearly 23 months.

The ceremonies, held after the completion of the three-phase elections recently, were largely conducted in a festive atmosphere with celebrations by supporters, though isolated incidents of violence and protests were reported from a few districts.

With the formation of elected bodies, gram panchayats are set to receive nearly Rs 3,000 crore from the Centre under the 15th Finance Commission grants before March 31, 2026, when the current fiscal 2025-26 ends.

The release of these funds had been stalled since February 2024 due to the absence of elected local bodies. The five-year tenure of the previous gram panchayats ended on January 31, 2024, but elections were delayed until December 2025 as the Congress government pursued the implementation of 42 per cent reservations for Backward Classes in local bodies, an initiative that encountered legal hurdles.

In Jangaon district, tensions flared during the oath-taking ceremony at Chennaraopet mandal headquarters. After the newly elected sarpanch Kandi Shweta, a BRS supporter, completed her oath, a dispute arose between Congress and BRS workers when party songs were played over the public address system during the ward members’ ceremony.

An argument over the volume escalated into a clash, with workers from both sides allegedly throwing plastic chairs at each other. A few persons sustained injuries and were shifted to hospital, while police intervened to restore calm.

BJP-supported sarpanch Gollapally Alekhya, who was hospitalised due to illness, took oath inside an ambulance parked at the venue, with panchayat raj officials administering the oath.

Inssurance to offer the upa-sarpanch post.

Violence was also reported in Nalgonda district after a victory rally of a BJP–TDP-supported sarpanch Venkataiah was allegedly attacked by rival party workers.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy released a comprehensive handbook for gram panchayat representatives, prepared by the Telangana Grameena Abhivruddhi Samstha. The 292-page guide provides detailed information on the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, and the roles and responsibilities of gram panchayats.

Panchayat raj and rural development minister Seethakka congratulated the newly elected representatives and urged them to work collectively for village development, welfare initiatives and transparent governance, reiterating that villages form the foundation of the state’s progress and assuring full support from the government.