Telangana caste census backlash: Congress government to conduct one more round of survey

However, this would be restricted to only 3.1% of the population who did not participate in the initial exercise

Hyderabad: Facing mounting criticism from opposition parties, including the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and BC organisations, over the discrepancies in the recently conducted caste survey, the Congress government has agreed to conduct another round of survey from February 16-28.

However, this would be restricted to only the 3.1 per cent of the population who did not participate in the initial exercise.

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People can submit their details for the data collection, which will be facilitated through online submission, a toll-free number and mandal offices. Further, the State Cabinet will meet in the first week of March to review the data and finalise the 42 per cent BC reservation.

Speaking to mediapersons at the Secretariat here on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka revealed plans to introduce a Bill during the Budget session of the State Assembly in March proposing 42 per cent reservation in local body elections. He said the Bill would be sent to the Centre for approval, and efforts would be made to secure political consensus.

The Congress government, which had hoped to set a national precedent with its caste census, is now grappling with allegations of deliberate under-reporting of the BC population. BC organisations and opposition parties claim that the numbers have been reduced by 10 per cent compared to the previous BRS-era survey, leading to widespread protests.

Though the opposition parties and BC organisations demanded for a re-survey, the Congress government opted to restrict the fresh survey to only those who were left out in the previous round.