BRS avoids announcing candidates for local body polls amid HC hearing

Facing legal uncertainty over enhanced BC reservations in Telangana, BRS has delayed announcing local poll candidates. The party awaits clarity from the High Court’s October 8 hearing, while intensifying grassroots preparations without risking disqualifications under the contested reservation matrix

Hyderabad: Due to uncertainty over the legality of enhanced reservations in Telangana, the BRS is learnt to have hit the pause button on announcing candidates for the upcoming local body polls. The party has decided to withhold the announcement of its candidates until clarity emerges regarding the Telangana High Court orders and any necessary corrections to faulty reservations.

Party insiders admitted that while cadre enthusiasm was high and public anger against the Congress government was palpable after 22 months of misrule, the leadership was unwilling to risk premature announcements that could backfire in the wake of a court verdict. Instead, the party leadership took a calculated decision not to finalise candidates prematurely.

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“The High Court might overturn or modify the government’s decision. Similarly, amid increasing complaints about faulty reservations, the State Election Commission might also modify them. Amid such circumstances, candidates fielded under the present reservation matrix could find themselves disqualified overnight. It is unwise to push aspirants into financial and emotional distress without certainty. The party will wait for at least the October 8 hearing,” a senior BRS leader said.

Hearing a writ petition against the State government’s GO MS No. 9 that raised Backward Class reservations in local bodies from 25 per cent to 42 per cent, the Telangana High Court made it clear last week that any election notification would remain subject to judicial scrutiny. The bench questioned the government’s haste and pointed out the absence of the Governor’s assent to the bill. Posting the matter to October 8, the court underlined that the breach of the 50 per cent ceiling, already struck down in multiple Supreme Court judgments, cannot be ignored.

Meanwhile, BRS has no plans to remain idle. District and constituency in-charges have been asked to identify strong contenders and send their names to party headquarters, though official announcements will be held back. BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao has personally reviewed preparations, instructing cadre to begin door-to-door outreach, public meetings, and booth-level consolidation. Accordingly, the party leaders have already commenced groundwork in this regard.