Hyderabad: On Sunday, the Telangana Assembly approved two significant Bills: the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Telangana Municipalities (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025. These Bills remove the 50% cap on local body reservations, allowing for a 42% reservation for Backward Classes in upcoming local elections.
Interestingly, this decision comes while similar measures await the President’s approval.
During the Assembly session, intense debates occurred between government and opposition members. Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu introduced the Municipalities Bill on behalf of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, while Panchayat Raj Minister Dhansari Anasuya (Seethakka) presented the Panchayat Raj Bill. Sridhar Babu criticized the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for wanting a 10-year delay in implementing reservations, suggesting they aim to include the issue under the IXth schedule controlled by the Centre. He urged clarity from both the BRS and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on their stance. He highlighted that while SCs and STs receive reservations based on population, BCs struggle due to the 50% ceiling. He reminded that Rahul Gandhi promised an amendment to Schedule IX if his party gained power centrally.
The BJP was urged to clarify its position, especially since the state had conducted a comprehensive survey on socio-economic, educational, employment, political, and caste aspects, along with a commission to study BCs’ backwardness.
BRS member Gangula Kamalakar warned against rushing decisions on reservations. He asserted that including them in the IXth schedule would offer protection, questioning the 20-month delay.
During the debate, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy blamed former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for the 50% reservation cap, calling it an obstacle for BC empowerment. He explained that the Ordinance was initially needed due to the absence of the House but was now unnecessary with the Bill’s passage.
Revanth Reddy also mentioned attempts to meet the Prime Minister regarding this matter, claiming no response after five requests. He noted a protest in Delhi with over 100 MPs attending, yet no BRS MPs supported the BC cause. He accused the Kalvakunta family of opposing unity among BCs and other communities.
BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar stated that elections would proceed only after ensuring 42% reservations. He mentioned plans for an all-party delegation to meet the Governor and highlighted unsuccessful attempts to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Draupadi Murmu. The Minister emphasized the state’s right to make regional election decisions, based on legal understanding, and urged the Governor to consider the Assembly’s consensus.
