Telangana: Congress govt deceives BCs again in ULB reservations

Congress government has been accused of betraying the Backward Classes after ULB reservation announcements showed BC representation at only around 31% — far below the promised 42%. Reservations were declared for 10 municipal mayors and 121 municipal chairpersons

Hyderabad: The Congress government has yet again deceived the Backward Classes community. As per the reservations announced for the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) on Saturday, BCs have received a raw deal, contrary to the assurances repeatedly given by the government.

Reservations were announced for mayors of 10 municipal corporations and chairpersons of 121 municipalities. The reservations for SCs and STs were offered as per the 2011 Census, while those for BCs were based on the SEEPC survey conducted in the State in 2024.

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Though 50 per cent reservation was offered to women category, BCs have once again been shortchanged. The Congress government has been consistently claiming that it is committed to extending 42 per cent reservation to BCs, but the figures announced tell a different story.

Of the 121 municipalities, only 38 chairperson posts were reserved for BCs, which works out to 31.40 per cent. Similarly, of the mayor posts, only three have been reserved for BCs, amounting to just 30 per cent. In ward-level reservations too, the community has been allotted only 30.61 per cent.

With the State government announcing the reservations, there is speculation that the election schedule could be announced anytime in the next three to four days, followed by a notification from the State Election Commission.

Though officials have announced reservations for mayor posts in 10 municipal corporations, elections will be conducted only in seven corporations, including Bhadradri Kothagudem, Ramagundam, Mahabubnagar, Mancherial, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Nalgonda.

The present council terms of GHMC, Greater Warangal and Khammam will come to an end a few weeks later.

Likewise, elections are likely to be held in 117 municipalities out of the total 121. The present council terms of Siddipet, Kothur, Nakrekal and Jadcherla will continue for a few more weeks.