After witnessing unimpressive results in the Lok Sabha polls and the party high-command restrained from giving green signal for cabinet expansion, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is said to be worried about conducting polls to local bodies scheduled to be held now.
Normally for a newly elected government local bodies polls give positive results, as already opposition parties will be demoralized. But after seven months of governance, though a large number of MLAs and MLCs from BRS are joining Congress, the party is failing to carry people with them.
On issues of recruitment, ration cards, loan waiver and focusing on development the government failed to show any concret activity. As a result, Revanth Reddy has reportedly decided to further delay local bodies polls. The State government has already appointed special officers for gram panchayats and Mandal Praja Parishads (MPPs) and is likely to do the same for Zilla Parishads.
Elections were due for ward members and sarpanches of 12,769 gram panchayats, 5,817 MPTCs, and 534 ZPTCs. The term of the gram panchayats ended on February 1 this year, while the tenure of MPTCs and ZPTCs concluded on July 3. Despite the non-partisan nature of these elections, most candidates are affiliated to political parties.
The State Election Commission had prepared to conduct the elections, but the ruling Congress was reportedly hesitant to proceed. The Congress is citing the delay in finalising reservations for the BCs and other issues as reasons for the postponement of polls.
Congress circles admitting that they now cannot dare to hold the polls after the performance in Lok Sabha election was below expectations. With many rural local bodies previously under BRS control, they felt that it would be risky for the Congress to face the elections now.
Revanth Reddy worried that if the Congress fails to win a majority of local bodies apart from the opposition,particularly BRS gain an advantage, adversaries within Congress will bring pressure with the high-command against him.
In the 2019 elections, the BRS dominated, securing 446 out of 534 ZPTCs and controlling all 32 Zilla Parishads. Similarly, the party also had 3,556 out of 5,816 MPTCs and over 10,000 of the 12,769 gram panchayats.
The ruling Congress is also reluctant to face elections without fulfilling key promises like the crop loan waiver, fearing backlash from farmers who form a significant part of the rural electorate. The State government aims to implement crop loan waivers, Rythu Bharosa and other rural-centric schemes over the next couple of months and seek elections to rural local bodies before Dasara.