HYDERABAD : As panchayat elections are around the corner, BC leaders in the state, particularly those in the ruling Congress, are demanding removal of the 50 percent cap on reservations. The previous BRS government introduced the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, restricting reservations to a maximum of 50 percent for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Backward Classes (BC) in panchayat raj elections. When it was in the opposition, the Congress vehemently opposed the cap.
Through the ordinance, the previous BRS government reduced the BC quota from 34 percent to 23 percent, restricting total reservations to 50 percent. The panchayat raj elections were held in 2019 based on the restricted reservations, sparking off widespread opposition. Even the then TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who now holds key portfolios in the Congress government, protested against it.
Those aspiring for positions in panchayat raj institutions are demanding that the state government restore the 34 percent quota for BCs. Speaking to TNIE, a Congress leader from Nalgonda, Pullemla Ramesh, whose mother contested in the previous MPTC elections, said that 34 percent BC reservations were implemented for about three decades. The “anti-BC government of BRS” reduced it to 23 percent, leaving BCs high and dry, he added.
Going a step further, veteran Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy complete the caste census and allocate reservations based on it.
“It would be advisable if our government in Telangana conducts caste-wise survey at this juncture. Then much-needed justice can be rendered to SCs, STs, OBCs and even minorities. The entire process of caste-wise census hardly takes three to four months. I therefore request you to conduct a caste-wise census on a war footing,” Hanumantha Rao said.
Rajya Sabha member and BC leader R Krishnaiah too had recently urged the state government to conduct the local body elections only after increasing reservations to BCs. He urged Panchayat Raj Minister Seethakka to consider the aspirations of BCs and increase reservations to 42 percent.
However, it remains to be seen if the Congress, whose leader Rahul Gandhi has used the slogan “jitne abadi utna haq” (reservations based on proportion in the population) during the Lok Sabha election campaign, would practise what it has been preaching.
Revanth asks colleagues to ensure Cong’s victory
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday directed his party leaders from Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda graduates constituency to take the MLC bypoll as a prestige issue and work effectively to ensure the victory of party candidate C Naveen alias Teenmar Mallanna. The CM, who is also the TPCC president, held a Zoom conference with the ministers and other key leaders from Warangal, Khammam, and Nalgonda. The CM also asked the party leaders to ensure high voter turnout. He said that Teenmar Mallanna will act as a bridge between the unemployed youth and the government. “This is not just Teenmar Mallanna election, but the Congress’ election,” he said.