Several NRIs from Dubai, US, Israel, Qatar and Bahrain have returned to their native villages in Telangana to contest gram panchayat elections or support family members. Many quit jobs abroad to campaign for local leadership roles, highlighting strong ties to their roots

Jeddah: Driven by a strong emotional attachment to their roots, several NRIs have returned to their native villages in Telangana to contest in the gram panchayat elections beginning Thursday, while others have flown home to support family members in the fray.

Many villages in the State mobilise a significant share of their own development funds through village development committees, often powered by contributions from NRIs, while caste groups also influence these committees. Sarpanches therefore must work closely with

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