Telangana politics heats up again with December local body polls on the cards

Before the dust even settles in Jubilee Hills after a high voltage bypoll campaign, the stage is being readied for another tense political battle in Telangana, with the arena this time to shift from urban to rural settings.

With the Telangana High Court issuing a stern directive on Friday that the State has to notify an election schedule for the much delayed local body polls by November 24, Monday’s Cabinet meeting has assumed political significance in more than one way.

While the meeting is expected to decide on the election schedule, with sources indicating that the Congress might hold the local body polls in December, coinciding with the government’s second anniversary in power, the Ministers are also likely to discuss poll sops to be announced to woo the State’s rural electorate,



especially farmers.

The Cabinet meeting, coming close on the heels of the Congress victory in Jubilee Hills, could see decisions on the disbursal of bonus for fine-variety paddy, a 2023 poll promise that remains largely unfulfilled.

The crucial Rythu Bharosa scheme, another promise that faltered during implementation, may also figure in the discussions. Both schemes are being seen as efforts to placate farmers across the State, who have expressed anger at the government’s failure to ensure adequate urea and fertilisers and, more recently, smooth crop procurement process.

However, the most important decision would be related to the pre-election candidate selection process, with the 42 percent reservation to backward class communities remaining a tough nut to crack for the Congress.