MLAs face PR poll test in Telangana panchayat elections

Hyderabad: Panchayat elections, which are likely to be held in February, will be the acid test for ministers and TRS legislators as TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has entrusted them with the responsibility of ensuring the party wins the elections.

Tickets for the 2019 parliamentary elections will depend on the performance in these elections. 

There is speculation that the CM may go for a Cabinet reshuffle after the panchayat polls and non-performers in the panchayat elections will be shown the door and good performers will be given Cabinet berths.

Ministers and MLAs have been camping in districts and villages to mobilise support for the TRS, even though the poll schedule is yet to be issued.

Though the five-year term of panchayats will end in August 2018, the CM disclosed his plans of advancing the polls to February in the recently held collectors’ conference at Pragathi Bhavan.

The CM directed collectors to submit proposals on setting up new panchayats, merger of nearby villages in municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar panchayats by this month-end.

Local leaders and activists from other parties are being taken into the TRS fold to make the party stronger. Ministers and MLAs are promising more funds to panchayats if the TRS wins.

The panchayat polls are seen as a precursor to the Assembly and General elections to be held later. With no major elections held in the state for the past two years, the party leadership wants to know where the party stands with voters so as to be prepared for the bigger challenges ahead.

With a major chunk of TRS voters being from rural areas, it is important to know the standing of the party here and the panchayat elections will be a good indicator.