BC quota strategy may delay Telangana local body elections: Congress

Facing mounting rural anger over a urea shortage and faltering welfare schemes, the Congress government in Telangana is delaying local body elections beyond the High Court’s deadline. In a strategic pivot, it plans to boost BC reservations to 42%, despite legal hurdles, and showcase marquee infrastructure projects to regain public support.

Hyderabad: The Congress government in Telangana appears unwilling to hold local body elections by the September 30 deadline set by the High Court, apparently fearing adverse political fallout in rural areas.

With farmers seething over the continuing urea shortage and discontent simmering at the grassroots, the ruling party is instead seeking to recast itself as the champion of the Backward Classes (BCs).

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Government sources confirmed that a GO enhancing BC reservations to 42 per cent in local body polls would be issued next week, despite the move breaching the Supreme Court’s 50 per cent cap on quotas. Legal teams have already been briefed to defend the policy in the High Court in this regard.

Immediately after issuing the GO, the State government is planning to petition the High Court, seeking an extension of the deadline to conduct elections. The plea will cite the government’s “policy commitment” to BC reservations and highlight efforts such as Assembly bills pending with the President, ordinances with the Governor and GOs already issued.

Officials said the government would argue that ordinances and bills passed by the Assembly, still pending with the Governor and the President respectively, have delayed the reservations and subsequently affected the polls.

“The government wants to project itself as pro-BC while shifting the blame for the delay on procedural hurdles,” an insider revealed.

The ruling party finds itself in a bind as it is eager to claim credit for implementing the BC reservations, but wary of the political fallout if the courts strike down it. Party leaders are said to have pressed for the delay, arguing it would help blunt criticism from BC organisations and keep the promise alive.

“Conditions are not favourable, so the party wants to buy time,” admitted a senior Congress leader, adding that if all goes well, the local body elections will be held in January.

Earlier plans to ride on schemes like Rythu Bharosa and free fine rice have faltered, with the recent urea shortage denting the government’s image among farmers.

To win back people’s support, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is reportedly keen to launch marquee projects before polls. These include laying the foundation for the ambitious Bharat Future City and the Gateway of Hyderabad on the ORR in December, along with announcements on the Musi Riverfront rejuvenation project. Efforts are also being expedited to revive the SLBC tunnel works and repair the Medigadda barrage, to showcase progress ahead of elections.

For now, the Congress appears intent on betting big on the BC reservation gambit, not just as a constitutional argument in court, but as a political shield against growing rural anger.