Local body polls: 42% BC reservation to play key role; Congress looks for suitable candidates

Hyderabad: Come local body polls, 42 percent reservation for backward classes is set to play a key role for the ruling Congress.

Local body elections have become a prestige issue for the Congress to show its commitment to the backward classes in the state.

According to the caste survey, Telangana BC population is 1,64,09,179, which accounts for 46.25 percent. It excludes Muslim minorities. According to a survey, 12.56 percent or 44,57,012 are backwards among Muslims.

Taking the BC data into consideration, the parties have to select candidates accordingly in the zilla parishads.

Target for three eligible candidates

In a Zoom meeting between AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, and Telangana Congress President Mahesh Kumar Goud, it was decided that the election committees of the Congress party will select three eligible candidates and then decide on one of them.

A list of three candidates from every Mandal has to be submitted by October 5 to Mahesh Kumar Goud.

Focus on Victory and Error-Free Selection

The Chief Minister stressed the importance of a meticulous selection process. He stated that the candidates' selection will be made by the Pradesh Congress Committee who are eligible in all aspects.

Revanth Reddy advised the Congress ministers and members of the Legislative Assembly to target victory and make no mistakes in the selection of candidates.

Legal battle

The legal battle over the backward class reservations is like a hanging sword on the Congress party. To discuss the legal aspects, minister Poonam Prabhakar, along with senior leaders of the Congress, discussed the legal aspects to proceed with the issue in the court. The court decision is expected on October 8th for the 42 percent reservation for backward classes in Telangana.

The Telangana High Court is to take up the issue of the potential breach of the 50 percent reservation ceiling mandated by the Supreme Court. The Telangana Backward Class reservation bill of 42 percent is considered a potential breach.

"We are going ahead with the elections by providing 42% reservations to the Backward Classes," was the unanimous decision of the leaders in the meeting.

Tamil Nadu Model for Implementation

The leaders also discussed the implementation of reservations by drawing a parallel with the Tamil Nadu model. They highlighted a recent court ruling in Tamil Nadu, which stipulated that if bills pending with the Governor or the President exceed a period of three months, the State Government is empowered to implement the provisions itself.

Based on this court precedent, the leaders expressed confidence that the reservations will also be implemented in Telangana.