Hyderabad: The Telangana BJP criticized the state government for not holding local body elections, which led to a loss of Rs 2,314 crore in central funds over the past 18 months. This loss has affected development in rural and urban areas.
Dr. Boora Narsaiah Goud, a former MP, highlighted that the terms for 12,769 Sarpanches ended on January 31, 2024. Elections for 5,717 MPTCs were due by May 2024, and elections for 538 ZPTCs, MPPs, and ZP chairpersons were completed a year ago.
Most of the 128 out of 130 municipal bodies have also completed their terms, but elections have not started. The state’s delay violates the Constitution, specifically Articles 243-A, 243-U, and 243-ZA, which mandate the state to conduct these elections with oversight from the State Election Commission.
By not holding these elections, the state has missed Rs 1,514 crore from the 15th Finance Commission and about Rs 800 crore from the 14th Finance Commission. The state government also hasn’t clarified reservation levels for these elections, failing to fulfill promises and stalling development.
Immediate elections are necessary to avoid further financial loss. Although the Constitution allows the state to set reservation levels, the Congress party has not implemented its promise of 42 percent reservation for BCs, according to Goud.
It is misleading for the Congress government to blame the central government. Ministers often say elections will happen soon, but no decisions have been made, claimed Goud. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy suggests positive changes are coming, yet clarity on elections remains absent.
