Eye on local body polls, Congress elevates MLA Shankaraiah to chairman of TPCC OBC department

Hyderabad: The elevation of MLA K Shankaraiah, also known as Veerlapalli Shankar, as the chairman of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee's Other Backward Class Department (OBC) is seen as a calculated move to consolidate its power base in Telangana.

This appointment by the All India Congress Committee is for the upcoming local body elections.

Strengthening the BC Card

With the gram panchayat and municipal elections scheduled for 2026, the Congress party is doubling down on its Backward Classes outreach. OBCs constitute over 50% of Telangana's population. By appointing a sitting MLA from a key constituency like Shadnagar to lead the OBC wing, Congress is sending a message that it is rewarding grassroots leaders who represent these communities, explained sources.

Countering the OBC Quota backlash

The Congress government in Telangana recently faced a major political and legal hurdle when the High Court stayed its decision to provide 42% reservation for BCs in local body elections. Opposition parties Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Bharatiya Janta Party have been using this stay to claim that Congress "misled" the OBC communities.

A senior Congressman explained, "Promoting Shankaraiah is a damage control tactic. It signals to the OBC voters that even if the reservation is legally stalled, the party is still giving OBC leaders high-ranking positions and a seat at the table."

Recognized as a giant

In the 2023 Assembly elections, K Shankaraiah secured a significant victory in Shadnagar by defeating the BRS heavyweight and two-time incumbent, Yelganamoni Anjaiah. Shadnagar is a "gateway" constituency to South Telangana. Shankaraiah’s ability to flip this seat made him a valuable asset. His elevation is a reward for his performance and his loyalty to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s leadership.

What is the importance of Shadnagar?

Shadnagar is no longer just a rural constituency; it is becoming a massive industrial and real estate hub (home to the Regional Ring Road, Microsoft Data Centers, and Pharma SEZs). Political pundits analyze that by elevating the local MLA to a state-level party position, the Congress leadership ensures that their "man on the ground" in this high-growth area has enough political weight to manage the complex local interests (farmers, industrial laborers, and real estate developers) while maintaining the party’s influence.

Rahul Gandhi's narrative

At the national level, Rahul Gandhi has made the Caste Census and "Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq" (representation in proportion to population) the central pillar of the Congress ideology. Shankaraiah’s appointment as the OBC Department Chairman aligns the Telangana unit with this national strategy, ensuring the state party remains the "champion" of social justice in the eyes of the voters.