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KTR's Sharp Question to Rahul Gandhi: Why BC Quota Cut from 24% to 17%?

KTR has directly challenged Rahul Gandhi over the Congress government's reduction of BC reservation in Telangana's panchayat elections. The BRS leader pointed out the contradiction between Congress's promise of 42% quota and the actual 17% allocation. This comes after the High Court intervened and set aside the government's original 42% reservation order. The panchayat elections are now proceeding with reduced BC quotas while the court examines the broader reservation policy.

Key Points: KTR Demands Rahul Gandhi Answer on BC Reservation Cut in Telangana

  • KTR questions Congress reducing BC quota from 24% to 17% in panchayat polls
  • Congress spent Rs 160 crore on caste census promising 42% reservation
  • Telangana panchayat elections scheduled for December in three phases
  • High Court set aside 42% BC quota order citing 50% total reservation cap
3 min read

Telangana: KTR seeks answer from Rahul Gandhi on reducing BC reservation in Panchayats

BRS leader KTR questions Rahul Gandhi over Congress reducing BC reservation from 24% to 17% in Telangana panchayat elections despite promising 42% quota.

"Any chance you could share the wisdom on wasting huge money of the exchequer in this futile exercise? - K. T. Rama Rao"

Hyderabad, Nov 26

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday demanded an answer from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for reducing reservation for Backward Classes in the ensuing Gram Panchayat elections in Telangana.

He wanted to know why the Congress government reduced the reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) to 17 per cent from the earlier 24 per cent and what happened to its promise of 42 per cent reservation.

KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, took to 'X' to slam the Congress party over reducing the BC quota in Gram Panchayats.

"Hello Rahul Gandhi Ji, You spoke eloquently about Telangana caste census and claimed it as a role model for other states. Congress Govt Spent Rs 160 crore with a promise of 42 per cent reservation for the BC community. Delivered 17 per cent to the BC community (reduced from 24 per cent) in the just announced panchayat elections !!!. Any chance you could share the wisdom on wasting huge money of the exchequer in this futile exercise ?" KTR wrote.

Telangana State Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notification for Gram Panchayat elections, scheduled in three phases next month.

As per the notification, elections will be held on December 11, 14 and 17 for 12,728 posts of sarpanchs and 1,12,242 wards.

A total 1.66 crore votes in rural areas are eligible to cast their votes in these elections.

The SEC has provided 17.08 per cent reservation in Gram Panchayats for Backward Classes (BCs). Out of the total 12,735 Gram Panchayats, 2,176 have been reserved for BCs.

Among 31 districts in which elections will be held, Siddipet has the highest BC reservation at 26.772. In Bhadradri Kothagudem, no Gram Panchayat has been reserved for BCs.

The government had issued an order to provide 42 per cent reservation to BCs in local bodies, and based on this, an election notification was issued on September 29 for elections to Gram Panchayats, Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs).

However, as the High Court set aside the government order, the election notification was suspended.

The Telangana Cabinet on November 17 decided to conduct only Gram Panchayat elections in December as the Rs 3,000 crore grant that should come from the Centre will lapse by March 31, 2026.

It was announced that the decision on conducting MPTCs, ZPTCs and municipal corporations will be taken after the High Court's final orders on 42 per cent reservation for BCs.

As per the interim order of the High Court, local body elections have to be held with a 50 per cent cap on total reservation for all sections.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While I understand the frustration, we should also note that the High Court set aside the 42% order due to the 50% cap on total reservation. The legal framework has to be respected, even if it's not ideal.
P
Priya S
Rs 160 crore spent on caste census and this is what we get? BC communities deserve better. From 24% to 17% is a huge step backward. Congress should explain this properly. 😠
M
Michael C
Interesting to see how political parties make tall promises during elections and then conveniently forget them. This happens across party lines, not just with Congress. The real losers are the common people.
A
Ananya R
As someone from a BC community, this feels like betrayal. We voted for change and better representation, but now we're getting less than before. When will politicians stop playing with our futures? 🙏
V
Vikram M
The High Court's 50% cap is a constitutional limitation. While I sympathize with BC communities, we can't ignore legal boundaries. Maybe the focus should be on economic development rather than just reservation politics.
K
Kavya N
Why is BRS raising this issue now? They were in power for 10 years and couldn't deliver 42% reservation either. This seems like political point-scoring rather than

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