Revanth Reddy awaits SC nod on BC quota ahead of local body polls deadline

With the High Court’s deadline for local body elections approaching, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stated that the decision on extending 42 per cent reservations to BCs would hinge on the Supreme Court’s ruling. He also addressed defection notices issued by the Speaker and criticised the Centre and L&T for stalling Hyderabad Metro expansion.

Hyderabad: With the September 30 deadline set by the High Court for local body elections drawing near, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday said the State government would decide on extending 42 per cent reservations to BCs based on the Supreme Court’s directions.

The Assembly had earlier passed Bills providing a 42 per cent quota for BCs in local body polls, but the Governor referred them to the President for assent. With the 90-day period stipulated by the Supreme Court coming to an end, the government would wait for the apex court’s ruling before taking a call, the Chief Minister told reporters during an informal chat in New Delhi.

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On whether the government might approach the courts again, the chief minister said the matter would be discussed with legal experts.

Referring to Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar serving notices to BRS turncoat MLAs, he claimed that there were no clear regulations on defections. “Does the mere presentation of a scarf to a person who visits my house amount to party defection?” he asked.

On reports of Larsen & Toubro seeking to exit the Hyderabad Metro Rail project, the Chief Minister alleged that Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and former Minister KT Rama Rao were creating hurdles.

Despite repeated appeals, the Centre was not approving the Metro expansion or the Regional Ring Road project. He said the union government was insisting that unless the State signed a pact with L&T, Metro expansion clearances would not be given.

He also accused L&T of not developing lands allotted to it as part of the project, and urged the company to cooperate with the State government in expanding Metro services in Hyderabad.