Revanth Reddy Facing crisis After Failing To Bring A Resolution on BC Reservations In The Assembly

Sunday, February 16, 2025

When Chief Minister Revanth Reddy called for a special session of the Telangana Assembly on Tuesday to present caste census report, everyone thought he would bring a resolution seeking 42 percent reservations for the BCs, as promised by the Congress party and forward the same to the Central government for a legislation, amending the constitution.

Moreover, the assembly session was held a day after Congress supreme leader Rahul Gandhi, who is working hard for a nationwide caste census, proudly cited in the Lok Sabha stating Telangana caste survey as an example. But surprisingly, Revanth only presented the report and announced that the Congress party will give 42 percent seats for the BCs in the forthcoming local body polls. But he was silent on providing statutory provision.

The survey has also become a headache for the Congress as it revealed that the Backward Classes (BCs) constitute 46% of the state. With demands for reservation based on this census being implemented in the upcoming local body elections, pressure has increased on the Congress government. BC associations, besides opposition BRS and BJP are rejecting this estimation citing earlier BRS regime’s survey projected over 50 percent.

 According to Rahul Gandhi’s slogan “Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq” (Rights according to population), the Telangana survey has revealed that BC Hindus and Muslims together constitute 48%. In the wake of these figures, the demand for increased reservations in the upcoming local elections is growing.

BC organisations have alleged that many households under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) were not included in the caste survey. BRS MLC Kavitha said, “The Telangana government has declared 56.3% BC population. We demand that reservations be increased according to these figures.”

Not only in Telangana, but also in neighbouring Karnataka, the Congress is facing difficulties over the caste census. The Congress is divided over whether to make the caste survey report, which was undertaken by the Siddaramaiah government in 2018, public. In a cabinet meeting in January, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and some upper caste ministers reportedly pressured the Congress high command to hold off on the report.

The survey, which was launched by the Siddaramaiah government at a cost of around Rs 160 crore, was supposed to be released to the public in 2024. However, the release of the report was stalled due to last-minute intervention by the Congress high command. Political analysts say the development has clearly exposed the divisions in the Congress.

Although Rahul Gandhi described the caste census as a nationwide “X-ray”, the issue has plunged the Congress into crisis in the states of Telangana and Karnataka. The rise in reservation demands in Telangana and differences over the release of the report in Karnataka – all these are likely to affect the party’s political future.

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