BC organisations slam Congress over party-based reservation plan for Panchayat polls

Backward Classes organisations criticised the Congress government for opting for party-based 42% reservations in upcoming Gram Panchayat elections, calling it a betrayal and legally unsound. With court cases pending and Panchayat polls traditionally non-partisan, critics warned of protests and accused Congress of misleading BC communities

Hyderabad: Backward Classes organisations have lashed out at the Congress government for deciding to extend party-based 42 percent reservations to the community in the forthcoming Gram Panchayat elections, warning of protests and calling the move a betrayal.

The Congress had earlier assured BC communities of statutory 42 percent reservations in local body elections, along with employment and educational opportunities. However, the State Cabinet on Monday opted for party-based reservations, triggering strong reactions.

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“What legal sanctity does this decision will have. If the Congress wanted to offer party-based why did it drag the issue for so long, This is betrayal and we will fight it out,” R Krishnaiah, president of All India BC Welfare Association, said.

The BJP Rajya Sabha MP questioned the urgency shown by the Congress, pointing out that a case on the issue was still pending before the High Court. He said the Congress should have waited for the court’s verdict and accused it of deceiving BCs under the guise of Bills and Ordinances.

“We are convening a meeting of all the BC organisations to discuss the future course of action. The Congress party will be taught a lesson,” Krishnaiah said.

The government’s decision has drawn criticism from several quarters. Many questioned the rationale for introducing party-based reservations in Panchayat elections that are traditionally contested without party symbols.

“Panchayat elections are contested independently without any affiliation to political parties and party symbols. By announcing that party-based reservations would be extended, whom is the Congress trying to deceive,” Ashok Reddy asked on X.

He further remarked that if such reservations were to be introduced, the decision should have been taken at Gandhi Bhavan, remarking that it was odd for the Cabinet to endorse it.

Others asked whether the Congress would now issue B-Forms to Panchayat contestants.

“Unless constitutional amendment, there will be no legal sanctity to such reservations. The Congress is deceiving the people, especially BCs, with new tactics. The issue has to be discussed in Parliament but both Congress and BJP are maintaining a strategic silence and enacting dramas in the lanes,” Pasham Raghunandan Reddy, another X user, said.

A notification for local body elections in two phases was issued on October 9. However, petitions were later filed challenging the move to extend 42 percent reservations, arguing it violated constitutional principles and Supreme Court directions.

The High Court subsequently directed the State government to announce the local body election schedule by November 24, stressing that Panchayat elections must be held within six months of term expiry. The Congress government has not conducted the elections since coming to power in December 2023.