The Telangana Assembly has passed two bills to provide 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in urban and local bodies. This action comes in response to a Telangana High Court deadline to hold local elections by September 30. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy explained that the Telangana Municipalities and Panchayat Raj Amendment Bills were needed because two previous bills and an ordinance, aimed at the same goal, have been pending with the President of India for months.
While speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Reddy criticized the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). He accused them of creating obstacles and spreading false information to delay an important social justice initiative. He mentioned that the new bill aims to circumvent a 50 percent reservation ceiling, which has made it hard to implement the 42 percent reservation. The Chief Minister pointed out that the 2018 Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, introduced by the previous BRS government under K Chandrashekar Rao, is a current barrier.
Reddy reviewed the legislative challenges. He noted that his government passed two bills—one for education and jobs and another for local bodies—and sent them to the Governor. Unfortunately, the Governor forwarded them to the President, where they have been stalled for five months. Facing the High Court’s deadline, the government issued an ordinance to remove the 50 percent reservation limit. However, Reddy accused the BRS of lobbying and influencing the Governor to send the ordinance to the President as well, causing more delays.
The Chief Minister emphasized his government’s commitment to the 42 percent reservation. He highlighted the establishment of a Dedication Commission and a 365-day caste survey, scheduled from February 4, 2024, to February 4, 2025, to ensure the reservation’s legal legitimacy. Reddy directly accused BRS leader Gangula Kamalakar’s party of being filled with sorrow, pain, and poison over this issue. He also criticized the BRS for lacking national support, claiming their MPs did not participate in a protest in Delhi supported by nearly 100 MPs from other states. He concluded by announcing that February 4 will be celebrated as ‘Social Justice Day’ to underscore their commitment and warned the opposition that their obstructive behavior could result in further public backlash.
