Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Wednesday reaffirmed the Congress government’s commitment on granting a 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies, education, and employment.Bhatti Vikramarka announced that the state government will introduce the BC Reservation Bill in the Legislative Assembly to extend the 42 per cent quota for BCs during the upcoming budget session, scheduled for the first week of March. He also said that the state government will conduct a special round of Caste Census from February 16 to 28 to provide another opportunity for 3.1 per cent households in the state who did not provide details during the previous round of Caste Census held in November-December 2024.Addressing a press conference at Secretariat on Wednesday after taking part in the review meeting conducted by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to discuss BC reservations in local bodies elections, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the government has decided to enhance the BC quota to 42 per cent as promised during Assembly polls. The state government will also seek approval from the Centre, pushing for a similar Bill in Parliament to extend the BC reservation quota nationwide.”This is a long-pending dream for the BC communities, and we are determined to make it a reality,” Bhatti said.However, the state government’s decision to conduct a fresh round of caste census to cover leftover households and to pass the BC Bill in the Assembly in March first week to extend 42 per cent reservations have cast a shadow on conducting local bodies elections in the near future. Since the passage of BC Bill and getting Centre’s approval involves legal and constitutional issues as 42 per cent BC quota breaches 50 per cent overall quota set by Supreme Court, it remains to be seen how long it would take for the state government to overcome these issues and conduct elections for gram panchayats, zilla parishads, mandal parishads and municipalities, for which the five-year tenure has already ended.Bhatti Vikramarka said that a delegation led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will travel to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to provide Constitutional protection to the BC Bill passed by Telangana Assembly and request him to pass a similar Bill for BCs at the national level.He said the state government will make efforts to unite all political parties across the country to support the BC reservation Bill in Parliament.Sharing details of the state government’s attempt to provide another opportunity for families who missed the previous round to register their details, he said these families can upload their information through a toll-free number, online platforms, and at Mandal Development Officer (MDO) offices statewide. The Deputy Chief Minister said approximately 3.1 per cent of households did not participate in the earlier census conducted between November and December 2024, and this new initiative aims to complete the data collection process.”The completion of this survey is crucial for the accurate calculation of caste-wise population figures, and we will proceed with finalising these numbers once all households have registered,” he added.Despite criticism from certain quarters, Bhatti expressed confidence that the survey would continue smoothly, dismissing calls for a re-survey by critics who fear the national impact of the successful exercise in Telangana. He credited the state’s meticulous and scientific approach, which involved deploying over one lakh employees for the house-to-house survey.Appealing to political parties, civic organisations, and intellectuals, the Deputy Chief Minister urged all stakeholders to support the Congress government in fulfilling its promise of a 42 per cent reservation for BCs. “We must unite for the cause of the BCs and ensure the bill is passed in the Assembly,” he said.The BC Reservation Bill to extend the 42 per cent quota for BCs will be introduced in the Legislative Assembly in March.People who couldn’t take in Caste Census earlier, can upload their information from February 16 to 28 through a toll-free number, online platforms, and at Mandal Development Officer offices. A delegation led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to provide Constitutional protection to the BC Bill passed by Telangana Assembly and request him to pass a similar Bill for BCs at the national level.”This is a long-pending dream for the BC communities, and we are determined to make it a reality.”Mallu Bhatti VikramarkaDeputy Chief Minister
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