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Congress Plans 42 percent BC Quota
Congress Proposes 42% Reservation for BCs in Telangana Local Polls
In a significant political move ahead of the Telangana local body elections, the Congress-led state government has introduced an ordinance proposing 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs). The Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Ordinance has been passed by the state cabinet and is now awaiting the formal assent of Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.
The proposed ordinance seeks to increase BC representation in local bodies by enhancing their reservation from existing levels to 42%. This move, the government says, is aimed at providing fair political participation to the backward communities, which constitute nearly 46% of Telangana’s population.
With elections approaching, political parties are intensifying efforts to woo the BC electorate, a decisive voting bloc in many regions. Both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP are actively competing for the community’s support.
Interestingly, the previous government under the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) had also pledged to provide 50% reservation to BCs in local body polls. However, that promise was never implemented during its tenure, drawing criticism from several quarters.
The Congress now appears to be acting on this long-pending demand. If the ordinance receives the Governor’s approval, it will mark a crucial step towards empowering backward communities in Telangana’s grassroots democratic institutions.
The implementation of this reservation policy could significantly influence the upcoming elections and reshape local governance in the state.
