Local Polls Likely Under Old Quota Rules

The Cabinet will meet at the Secretariat on August 25 to take up key issues, including holding elections to local bodies and finalising the quantum of reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) communities. According to official sources, the agenda will focus on clearing the way for the long-pending polls and addressing legal hurdles over the proposed 42 per cent BC quota in local bodies.

The Cabinet is expected to take a decision on conducting elections with the reservation pattern followed during the 2019 local bodies polls held under the BRS regime. The Assembly had passed a Bill increasing BC reservations in local bodies to 42 per cent. An ordinance amending the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018 to lift the 50 per cent cap on overall reservations was approved by state Cabinet last month. Both the Bill and the ordinance are awaiting approval from President Droupadi Murmu.
With the approvals pending, the government cannot implement the enhanced quota. As a result, the Cabinet is likely to favour reverting to the 2019 formula, under which BC reservations were reduced from 32 per cent to 23 per cent in line with Supreme Court directions that total reservations should not exceed 50 per cent.

Politically, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has indicated that the Congress will overcome this limitation by nominating at least 42 per cent of candidates for the local bodies polls from the Backward Classes communities. Other parties have also indicated that they would follow suit.

The Cabinet is also expected to convey its readiness to the State Election Commission to conduct the elections in September. The Telangana High Court had earlier directed the government to complete the process of local bodies polls by September 30, making Saturday’s Cabinet meeting crucial for finalising the timeline.
Apart from the elections, the Cabinet will also discuss tabling the report of the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission on the Kaleshwaram project in the Legislative Assembly. A decision on the schedule for the monsoon session of the Assembly, where the report is likely to be placed and debated, is also expected.

The Cabinet is expected to approve conducting elections with the reservation pattern followed in 2019.

BRS regime had reduced BC reservations from 32% to 23% in line with Supreme Court cap on quota at 50%.

State awaits Central approval for its legislation hiking reservations for BC community in local bodies to 42 per cent.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has indicated that the Congress will nominated at least 42% candidates from BC communities.

Cabinet expected to convey its readiness to the State Election Commission to conduct the elections in September.