Minister Ponnam urges voters to support Congress in final phase of Panchayat elections

Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has appealed to voters to back Congress candidates in the third and final phase of the village panchayat elections scheduled for December 17. He said that having Congress supporters as sarpanches would ensure faster and more effective implementation of development projects in villages.

In a video message, Minister Ponnam highlighted that under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the Congress government is committed to steering every village along the path of development. He pointed out that welfare and development programs initiated by the government are already benefiting rural communities.

The minister specifically mentioned initiatives such as distributing fine rice instead of coarse rice through the public distribution system, issuing new ration cards, and providing free bus travel for women, noting that these measures have improved the quality of life for villagers.

State Congress president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud noted that in the second phase of the panchayat elections on December 14, candidates supported by Congress secured a majority of sarpanch positions across the state. He said these results reflect public approval of the government’s performance.

However, BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) also highlighted his party’s strong showing in the second phase, including victories in constituencies represented by Congress MLAs and ministers, signaling challenges for Congress in rural areas.

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar shared that in his Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP won 29 out of 98 seats contested in the second phase.

Although the Telangana panchayat elections are officially conducted without party symbols, they serve as a key measure of political influence for parties in the state. Voter turnout has been high, with over 85% participation in the second phase and 84.28% in the first phase on December 11. The State Election Commission is conducting the elections in three phases - December 11, 14, and 17. Following the recent Congress victory in the Jubilee Hills Assembly bypoll, these panchayat elections are being closely watched as a test of public support for Congress, BRS, and BJP.

Meanwhile, the Congress government’s proposal to reserve 42% of seats for backward classes in local bodies has faced legal hurdles. As a result, the state decided on November 17 to conduct only panchayat elections, postponing elections for other rural local bodies such as ZPTCs.