The term of the governing bodies in 128 municipalities in Telangana has ended. With this, the rule of special officers has come into effect in those municipalities from Monday. To this extent, the Principal Secretary of the Municipal Department, Dana Kishore, issued GO No 15 on Sunday.
He clarified that special rule is being implemented in 128 municipalities as Nanspur and Kothapalli Mancherial municipalities have been merged with the Karimnagar Corporation. He said that the rule of special officers will also come into effect in the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation from the 28th of this month.
He instructed the Director of the Municipal Department to take immediate action in this regard. There is a possibility that development will be stunted in the municipalities where the rule of special officers is implemented and work will come to a standstill.
Currently, there are 139 municipalities and 16 municipal corporations in the state. Except for 7 of these municipalities, elections are to be held in all the remaining municipalities and corporations.
State Election Commission officials say that although they are ready to conduct these elections, they have not received any orders from the government. At least, the voters’ list is not ready for the municipal towns. It is learned that the Revanth Reddy government is delaying the municipal elections.
Similarly, although the term of the Gram Panchayats ended in February last year, elections have not been held for them so far. Due to this, development in the villages has come to a standstill. On the other hand, BC organizations are demanding that 42% BC reservation be implemented in the local body elections as promised by the Congress.
Clarity on the 42% BC reservation policy will come only after the report of the Dedication Commission comes out. Although the report of the Dedication Committee is positive, constitutional experts remind that there is also a provision that the total reservation should not exceed a maximum of 50 percent. It is being suggested that a constitutional amendment will be required in Parliament to overcome this.
There are also opinions that if this entire process is to be completed and elections are to be held, it is not possible now. Otherwise, if the local body elections are held under the old system, there is a possibility of strong opposition from the BC communities.
However, it is reported that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has met with Congress leaders to complete the municipal elections by the end of March and take steps to form a new governing body. Analysts predict that the issue of conducting local body elections in the state will become a challenge for the Revanth government.
