The Congress leadership in Telangana is facing pressure to hold local body elections after conducting a caste census, a promise made during the elections. BC leaders are pushing for the census to be done once the Model Code of Conduct is lifted, but there are concerns that the government may postpone the elections beyond June. The issue of caste census is complicated and may delay the polls further.
Party sources suggest that the government may postpone the elections to focus on other priorities like implementing loan waivers. BC leaders are demanding that the reservation for backward castes in local bodies be increased from 22% to 42% after the census. However, the current reservation norms limit OBC quota to 50%, posing a challenge for the government and party leaders.
The tenure of elected representatives to local bodies has been pending for four months due to previous elections. This has left officials managing the administration without public representatives at the panchayat level, leading to unresolved issues. While completing the elections by June was initially considered to focus on welfare activities, the caste census issue has complicated matters.
Top party leaders acknowledge that completing the caste census would benefit Congress but also recognize the challenges involved. The issue requires approval from the Governor and may face technical and legal hurdles, potentially leading to a lengthy process. PCC working president T Jagga Reddy explains that amending limitations from ten years ago and potential court challenges could further delay the process.
