Local Body Elections: Telangana SEC Confused Over BC Reservation Order

• High Court stay on BC quota leaves Election Commission in a fix

Hyderabad, Oct 12: The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) is caught in a dilemma over the conduct of upcoming local body elections after the High Court stayed Government Order (GO) No. 9 related to Backward Classes (BC) reservations.

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The court, while issuing the stay, made it clear that it does not wish to halt the election process since it has already begun. However, it advised the SEC to ensure that total reservations do not exceed 50 percent. The additional 17 percent quota granted to BCs, the court said, could be reduced and converted into general category seats.

Local Body Elections

This has left the Election Commission in a difficult position. The government is pushing hard to retain 42 percent reservation for BCs, but the court’s directions have created a legal hurdle.

Sources said State Election Commissioner Ranikumudi has been consulting legal experts to understand the implications and may take a final decision after further discussions.

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Can Elections Proceed Without Government’s Nod?

Another key issue being debated is whether the SEC can conduct elections without the state government’s consent. The Panchayat Raj Act clearly states that the government’s approval is required for holding local elections. This has put the SEC in a tight corner — balancing between legal mandates and political pressures.

Meanwhile, the state government is preparing to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, seeking relief to continue with its 42 percent BC quota plan. Officials say the Election Commission’s next move will likely depend on the court’s response.

Local Body Elections | Experts Blame Premature Notification

Political analysts believe the current confusion could have been avoided. They argue that the SEC rushed to issue the local election notification while the matter was still pending before the High Court. “If the schedule had been released after the verdict, these complications wouldn’t have arisen,” a senior analyst said.

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With uncertainty surrounding both the legal and administrative aspects, election officials, aspirants, and local leaders are left waiting anxiously for clarity on the next step.

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