Congress reconsiders MPTC, ZPTC polls amid local body setback

The Congress government in Telangana appears to be recalibrating its local body election strategy after underwhelming electoral performance and growing rural discontent. Though the government was expected to take a decision on holding MPTC and ZPTC elections during the Cabinet meeting on Monday, the issue was not taken up for reasons unknown.

With the tenure of MPTC and ZPTC bodies ending in June 2024 and nearly 19 months having passed without elections, aspirants remain in limbo. While there was initial buzz about holding Parishad polls before mid-March, the government is now said to be considering postponing them until after June.

Under these circumstances, the Congress government is reportedly exploring a more radical option of abolishing the MPTC and ZPTC system altogether. A detailed report has been sought from the Panchayat Raj Department.



Though the matter was expected to be discussed in the Cabinet meeting, sources said it did not materialise.

The official rationale is centred on administrative efficiency, with the argument that MPTCs and ZPTCs lack clear functional authority, impose financial burdens, and trigger frequent election codes. The proposal under consideration involves reducing the existing five-tier structure to a three-tier system and moving from direct to indirect elections for MPPs and ZP chairpersons.

However, the move faces significant constitutional hurdles. The three-tier Panchayat Raj framework is mandated under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. Legal experts caution that a State cannot unilaterally dismantle this structure without a constitutional amendment by Parliament. Any attempt to do so through a State resolution or ordinance could invite legal challenges.