Row erupts over Telangana’s ordinance for 42 per cent BC quota in local body elections

The Telangana government’s decision to implement 42% BC reservations in local polls via ordinance has triggered opposition from political parties and community groups. Critics question its legality and accuse the Congress of political manoeuvring to avoid electoral accountability.

Hyderabad: Questions and apprehensions are being raised by different sections over the State government’s decision to issue an ordinance for implementing 42 percent reservations to BCs in the local body elections.

The State cabinet, which met here on Thursday, decided that the local body elections would be conducted by implementing 42 percent reservations for the backward classes. This would be done by issuing an ordinance and amending the Panchayat Raj Act 2018 as well.

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However, the decision did not go well with leaders from different political parties, including the Congress.

Raising objections over the State government’s decision, MLC Ch Naveen recalled that the Congress government had assured to lead an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for implementation of 42 percent reservations to BC.

“If the issue could have been resolved by issuing an ordinance, why was an assurance made to lead an all-party delegation to New Delhi. Why was the Bill passed in the Assembly and sent to the Central government for approval,” he asked.

The Congress fielded him from the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates Constituency last year and won the election. However, in March last, he was suspended from the party for revolting against the BC census conducted by the State government. He had termed the caste census as “fake” and even burnt a copy of the survey report.

Interestingly, after the cabinet meeting, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar had appealed to all political parties to allot 42 percent tickets to BCs to support the implementation of BC reservations.

Similarly, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is also against the State government’s decision to issue an ordinance, questioning its sanctity.

BRS Spokesperson Manne Krishank wondered as to why the Congress leaders were celebrating the State Government’s decision. Does the State government’s caste census have any legal sanctity, will the Governor Jishnu Dev Varma give his assent or will the High Court approve the decision, he asked.

Stating that Congress party was a master in deceiving and promoting caste politics, Krishank Manne on X pointed out that “In 2021, because of Maharashtra Congress alliance government’s mistake local body elections were held without any OBC quota. The 27 percent of OBC reservation was also notified as General category,”

The Telangana Sarpanches Sangham is also up in arms against the State government’s decision.

This was yet another ploy by the 130-year old Congress party to deceive and mislead the people, especially the BCs. Why was the Bill passed in the Assembly and why was the Dedicated Commission constituted for BC, if the reservations can be achieved by issuing ordinance, asked Sangham president LN Reddy.

“The Congress government does not have any intentions to conduct the local body elections. More so, it is worried that any adverse result in the local body elections would expose the hollowness in its governance,” he charged.