Unconventional Leaders Signal Shift In Village Politics In Telangana
The elections also marked significant social milestones. In Karimnagar district, Vadla Mamatha created history by becoming the first transgender person to win a sarpanch seat, at Lasmanapalli village in Saidapur mandal.
KARIMNAGAR: A new wave of leadership took charge as newly elected sarpanches were sworn in across the erstwhile Karimnagar district on Monday. The recently concluded gram panchayat elections stood out for voters’ clear preference for candidates with social service backgrounds and diverse professional identities to lead villages towards development.
Voters appeared to move away from traditional political choices, electing candidates with unconventional backgrounds, including a folk artist, a retired Army soldier, and a transgender woman. These new leaders are expected to bring fresh perspectives to rural governance, with a focus on transparency, development, and infrastructure.
In Rajanna Sircilla district, Shivani Gourveni, a well-known YouTube folk dancer and choreographer, was sworn in as the sarpanch of Batumidapalli village. Having performed in over 300 folk songs and running her own dance school, Shivani said she would continue pursuing folk art while prioritising the rapid development of her village.
In Peddapalli district, retired Indian Army soldier Yerram Harinath Reddy took charge as sarpanch of Gunturupalli village. After serving 17 years along the country’s borders, he returned to his roots and resigned from a market committee post to contest the elections. He won by a margin of 303 votes and pledged to apply military discipline to work tirelessly for village progress.
The elections also marked significant social milestones. In Karimnagar district, Vadla Mamatha created history by becoming the first transgender person to win a sarpanch seat, at Lasmanapalli village in Saidapur mandal. In Peddapalli district’s Odela mandal, Jeela Raju Yadav, 23, a degree graduate, emerged victorious and was sworn in as the youngest sarpanch of Shanagonda village in the region.
The newly elected representatives said their priority would be improving healthcare and education in their villages. They added that, with public cooperation, they would work to strengthen infrastructure and ensure better facilities for residents.
Overall, the new sarpanches reflect a broader shift towards educated and socially aware individuals entering grassroots politics. Their shared objective is to modernise villages and ensure that government welfare schemes reach every household.
Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremonies underscored a changing rural mindset. Villagers expressed hope that these new leaders would draw on their education and life experiences to build modern, self-sufficient communities and deliver transparent administration at the panchayat level.
