Local body polls: Revanth Reddy orders enhancing BC quota; asks officials to prepare action plan

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday asked the officials to prepare an action plan to increase the BC (Backward Classes) quota in the upcoming local body and panchayat elections.

The Chief Minister chaired a review of the proposal to enhance the BC quota in the local body elections on Monday. The CM asked the officials to furnish the details of the implementation of reservation in the panchayat elections and also the proposal to increase the quota in the upcoming elections.

The officials explained to the Chief Minister the procedure followed in the last panchayat elections and the preparations being made for the upcoming polls.

Time taken to conduct caste census

The CM inquired from the officials about the requirement of time to complete the already approved cast census and the conduct of local body elections based on its outcome.

Officials told the CM that the caste census was already conducted in Karnataka in 2015 and Bihar in 2023. The details of the caste census in Andhra Pradesh have not been released yet.

Officials said that the caste enumeration format adopted by the central government in 2011 has 53 columns. It will take at least five and a half months to complete the caste census by adding three more columns.

Increase BC quota

The Chief Minister ordered the officials to prepare an action plan to increase the BC quota. He called for holding elections at the earliest to avoid delay in the release of central funds to the local bodies. The CM discussed the issue of increasing reservation elaborately in the meeting.

Former minister Jana Reddy explained the procedures adopted in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh and in Telangana for holding panchayat elections. He shed light on the cases filed in the Supreme Court on BC reservations in the local body elections by various states. He also referred to judgments and consequences.

Timeline for implementation

CM Revanth Reddy said that a timeline should be prepared for the implementation of reservations in panchayat elections. The officials have been asked to consult the experts in the Panchayat Raj Act including Jana Reddy and retired department officials to clear the doubts. They have also been told to consult the Advocate General in legal matters.

Study the implementation process

The CM asked officials to study reservations in the local body elections in other states. The Chief Minister said that he would call another meeting before the budget session of the state assembly and take a final decision on increasing reservations based on the report prepared by the officials.