The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) has released the schedule for rural local body elections, which will be conducted in five phases between October and November this year. As per the notification, elections to the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) are scheduled for October 23 and 27, while polling for Gram Panchayats will be held on October 31, November 4, and November 8. State Election Commissioner Rani Kumudini announced that over 1.67 crore voters across the state will participate in this much-awaited electoral process, which covers 565 mandals across 31 districts.

The SEC has confirmed that polling will be carried out through ballot boxes and papers, with equipment being sourced from neighboring states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. In total, elections will be held for 565 ZPTCs, 5,749 MPTCs, 12,733 Gram Panchayats, and 1,12,288 wards, making this one of the largest electoral exercises in the state. However, due to ongoing litigation and stay orders, elections for 14 MPTCs, 27 Gram Panchayats, and 246 wards will not be conducted at this time. Votes for the ZPTCs and MPTCs will be counted on November 11, while counting for Gram Panchayat polls will follow after the conclusion of voting.

To ensure smooth conduct of elections, the SEC has already completed pre-poll preparations and recently held a review meeting with top officials including the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, and the Principal Secretary of Panchayat Raj & Rural Development. The state government has also issued fresh guidelines on reservations for Zilla Parishads, Mandal Parishads, and Gram Panchayats. Appealing to voters and candidates alike, the Election Commissioner urged all stakeholders to abide by the Model Code of Conduct and ensure free and fair elections that reflect the democratic spirit of Telangana’s rural governance.