FGG urges Telangana State Election Commission to conduct pending panchayat polls
HYDERABAD: The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has urged the Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) to immediately conduct gram panchayat (GP) elections without waiting for approval from the state government. The organisation said the delay in elections, pending for two years, violates constitutional provisions and court directions.
In a letter dated October 21, 2025, FGG president M. Padmanabha Reddy cited Article 243-K of the Constitution, which vests the “superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of all elections to the Panchayats” in the SEC. He said this provision gives the commission full autonomy from both the executive and judiciary.
‘Delay against constitutional mandate’
Reddy said that despite court directions, the SEC had sought the state government’s permission to conduct the polls. “The State Election Commission does not require permission from the State Government to conduct elections once they are due,” he said, adding that the move was contrary to the constitutional mandate.
He noted that the lack of elected panchayat bodies had affected local administration and delayed the release of central funds. “Due to inaction of the SEC to conduct timely G.P. elections, the state has lost thousands of crores of central funds,” the letter stated.
Courts cleared conduct of polls
FGG pointed out that both the High Court and Supreme Court had clarified there was no bar to conducting elections based on existing reservations, even as the issue of 42% Backward Class (BC) quota remained sub judice. “Hon’ble High Court in the G.P. election case also directed the S.E.C. to conduct elections by September 2025,” Reddy said.
The organisation said it welcomed the enhanced BC quota but noted that the government order on reservations “is not standing to legal scrutiny”. It urged the SEC to exercise its constitutional powers and not wait indefinitely for government approval.
Copies of the letter were marked to the Principal Secretaries of the General Administration Department and the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department for necessary action.
