Telangana Congress rallies support for BC bill; CM Revanth to meet president in Delhi push

Hyderabad: Why is the Congress-led CM Revanth Reddy’s government at a crossroads for the local body elections and the Backward Classes Bill in the State?

Why have the two become a bone of contention for the government as they decide to camp in New Delhi to appeal to President Droupadi Murmu to clear the bill?

Camping in Delhi for the bill

These two questions are doing rounds in political circles as CM Revanth gears up, along with his members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of Parliament, and Members of the Legislative Council, to go to New Delhi for the bill.

Telangana Congress, along with INDIA alliance partners, have announced that August 5, 6 and 7 will be the days to camp in New Delhi for the appointment of the President.

Why is the Telangana government going to the president?

The local body polls in Telangana have to be conducted by August 30. Before conducting the local body polls, the 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in education, employment and local body polls is one of the promises of the Congress government.

Congress wants to implement this and take the maximum mileage out of it in the local body polls.

Politics at play

The BC bill has become a contentious issue in the State after the Telangana caste survey.

The government has come up with numbers, and this data has got everyone to look up as to what is in store for them. A senior member of a BC association, on condition of anonymity, said, “The move of the government to meet the President is appreciated. But what after that? Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah adhere to the advice of the President? Will there be an impact?”

Will the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government yield to the demand of the Telangana government? Will it give credit to a Congress-led State government?

A senior Congressman explained, “Telangana Governor has sent the bill to the President of India. The president will then advise the home minister to look into it. From then on, the bill will be in the hands of PM Modi and Home Minister Shah. How and in which way they will play with it, only time will tell.”

What will the TG government tell the High Court?

The local body elections are to be held in the State as they have been delayed by one and a half years.

The Congress government has two issues at hand: fulfil the promise given to the people and implement the reservation. By not doing so, they have to reply to the High Court and also to the people of Telangana for their inability to implement the reservation in the local body polls.

A senior Congressman explained, “The Congress is going to go to every nook and corner of the State and say that the BJP-led Central government is responsible. The bill was passed by all parties in the Assembly, which included even the BJP MLAs. So, if the bill is not cleared by the Centre, then the BJP will be blamed for it by the State.”

Who is going to Delhi?

Apart from MPs, MLAs and ministers, the local BC organisations, which are about 300 in number, are being geared up for Delhi. The government is asking even those associated with the BJP in Telangana to come to the president and appeal for the clearing of the bill.

A senior member of Congress explained, “Congress members are reaching out to those in the BC category in the BJP and asking them to support them.”

Reddy connections

The BC section, according to sources, is closely watching the Reddys in the Congress and the BJP.

They allege that while CM Revanth Reddy has taken a bold step, there is a need to do more to strengthen the BC leadership in Telangana.

A member of the BCs explained, “There is a need for a charismatic BC leader to lead, and we do not have that. Will the Reddy leadership allow that? Will the upper caste in the State allow for the BCs, OBCs to get their due? This is the beginning of a long struggle to get what is due to the marginalised section of society.”