Telangana local body poll delay puts Central grants worth crores at risk

Hyderabad: The Congress government’s delay in conducting local body elections has left five municipal corporations, seven municipalities, 31 Zilla Parishads and 565 Mandal Parishads under Special Officer administration, putting substantial Central grants at risk.

The delay in rural local body elections has reportedly cost Telangana around Rs 600 crore in 15th Finance Commission grants over two years. Another annual allocation of nearly Rs 300 crore is also at risk. Similarly, around Rs 500 crore in Central grants to urban local bodies is reportedly held up.

The five corporations awaiting elections are Greater Hyderabad, Cyberabad, Malkajgiri, Greater Warangal and Khammam. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) council’s term ended on February 10, 2026, while the terms of the Warangal and Khammam councils ended in May. The GHMC was reorganised into three corporations including Greater Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri, adding to the administrative and electoral preparations.

The seven municipalities identified for elections are Siddipet, Achampet, Nakrekal, Kothur, Manuguru, Mandamarri and Jadcherla. Elections to 116 municipalities and seven corporations were held in February 2026, while these remaining urban local bodies were left out due to a combination of term-related, legal and administrative issues.

The government has cited the reorganisation of GHMC, ward delimitation and electoral roll revision as factors delaying the remaining polls. A fresh schedule is yet to be announced.

The rural local bodies have been without elected councils since the terms of most Zilla Parishads and Mandal Parishads expired on July 3, 2024. The State Election Commission has undertaken voter mapping, but no election dates have been announced.

The delay has affected the flow of Finance Commission grants, which are linked to the functioning of elected local bodies and compliance with prescribed conditions. It also left these institutions functioning under officials and Special Officers, weakening elected representation and local accountability.

Congress leaders have reportedly asked party cadres to prepare for the December municipal polls. The government is also said to be considering conducting the Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad elections soon after the urban polls, in a single phase of polling. However, the schedule is yet to be formally announced.