Telangana Assembly clears bill for 42% quota for BCs in local body polls

Hyderabad: In a major step towards enhancing political representation for Backward Classes (BCs), the Telangana Assembly on Sunday passed the Telangana Municipalities (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The legislation provides 42 per cent reservation to BCs in urban and rural local bodies.

The bills were cleared by voice vote after a brief but stormy debate, marked by sharp exchanges between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

Congress, BRS in war of words

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy came down heavily on the previous BRS government, accusing it of restricting the BC quota to 50 per cent.

He alleged that former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao had enacted laws, the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, and Municipalities Act, 2019, that made it impossible to enhance reservations.

Countering, BRS working president KT Rama Rao questioned the sincerity of the Congress, asking why Congress MP Rahul Gandhi remained silent in Parliament on the BC quota issue.

Quota beyond 50% ceiling

The newly passed bills aim to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations and ensure 42 per cent quota for BCs in local governance. BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar assured the House that the enhanced quota would be implemented in the upcoming local body elections.

BRS demands an all-party delegation

Raising objections, BRS MLA Gangula Kamalakar alleged that the Congress lacked political will, reminding the House that two Bills for 42 per cent reservation in education, jobs and local bodies, passed in March, were still awaiting Presidential assent. He asked why the Congress had not led an all-party delegation to Delhi to mount pressure on the Centre.

CM accuses BRS of misleading people

Intervening in the debate, CM Revanth Reddy charged the BRS with misleading the House and blocking BC empowerment. He alleged that the opposition party had even influenced the Governor to stall an ordinance aimed at providing a 42 per cent quota in local bodies.

The Chief Minister also claimed that KCR was against BC empowerment, stating that legislation during the BRS rule became the main hurdle for increased reservations.

Centre’s silence questioned

CM Revanth told the House that the government had written five times to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an appointment on the BC quota issue but had received no positive response. He appealed to BJP floor leader Payal Shankar to intervene and help secure a meeting with the Prime Minister.

Caste survey basis for bills

Highlighting the state’s efforts, the CM said a caste survey was conducted by the Dedication Commission, set up in line with High Court directions. Based on its findings, the state government prepared and passed two Bills in March, which are currently awaiting Presidential approval.