Congress using 50pc cap excuse not to implement 42pc quota for BCs in local bodies, says Madhusudhana Chary

While discussing the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Chary highlighted that the Congress had promised to raise BC reservation in local bodies from the current 22 percent to 42 percent upon coming to power. However, he pointed out that the party has yet to take any action towards fulfilling this promise. "During the assembly elections, Congress promised to increase BC reservation to 42 percent in local bodies," he said.

Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council S Madhusudhana Chary expressed displeasure over the Congress government’s failure to provide 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes in the local bodies.

Speaking on the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Chary said the Congress promised to increase BC reservation to 42 per cent in local bodies, up from the current 22 per cent after coming to power, but so far it had done nothing in that direction. “During assembly polls Congress promised to increase BC reservation to 42 percent in local bodies.

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And now it is citing the Supreme Court’s cap of 50 percent as an excuse to not implement the promise,”he alleged.
Due to delays in finalising Backward Class reservations, uncertainty had surrounded the rural local body elections in the State, including gram panchayats, mandal parishads, and zilla parishads, he said, adding that the government should take steps to convince the centre to bring amendments to increase the BC reservation.

Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu said the State government was committed to provide 42 percent reservation to BCs in the local bodies. “Congress central leadership was taking measures to exert pressure on the centre to amend the constitution to remove the 50 percent cap on reservation,”he said.