Hyderabad: A cabinet meeting of the Congress government -led Congress government in Telangana proposed 42% reservation to backward classes (BCS) in local bodies on Thursday – for panchayat elections within just three months, it is compulsory by the High Court directive on 25 June. Kota will be implemented through an ordinance.The reservation percentage is based on empirical data from the caste survey conducted by the state government and has been presented to the BC Commission under the chairmanship of BCANAY Venkateswara Rao. Based on allowing sub-classification of groups entitled to reservation based on the Supreme Court’s decision, the Cabinet approved amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, which is a precursor to increase quota for the back classes.Assembly and Legislative Council sessions were selected on Thursday along with Governor Jishanu Dev Verma, the state government now has a constitutional window to issue relevant ordinances.Sources said that the cabinet decided after consulting legal experts and advocates General, who were present in the meeting. Revenue Minister Ponguli Srinivas Reddy and BC Welfare Minister Ponam Prabhakar said that an ordinance was important to avoid delays and legal complications.“As per Rahul Gandhi’s promise, the Congress conducted a caste survey after coming to power. Two bills providing 42% reservation for education, employment and local bodies were passed in the assembly and sent to the Governor.Ponam said that the time limit set by Panchayat Elections HC will be held on 30 September. He said, “We are standing through our BC announcement made in Comrade. We urge all sides to support this reservation for smooth conduct of panchayat elections,” he said.On concerns at 50% cap of SC on total reservation, Ponam argued that it was already violated through the Center’s EWS quota, while Tamil Nadu currently had more than 60% reservation. He said that BCS forms 56% of the population of Telangana, which justifies 42% reservation for them.
