Revanth also asked to conduct the elections at the earliest to avoid any delay in the release of central funds to local bodies.
Published Jul 16, 2024 | 10:12 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 16, 2024 | 10:12 AM
Telangana state to deploy 80,000 employees for caste census beginning on 6 November(TelanganaCMO/X)
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday, 15 July, ordered officials to prepare an action plan to increase the Backward Classes (BC) quota in the upcoming local body elections.
At a review meeting with Panchayat Raj department officials, the chief minister asked the officials to furnish the details of the implementation of reservation in the panchayat elections and also the proposal to increase the quota in the upcoming local body elections.
The officials explained the procedure followed in the panchayat elections and the preparations being made for the upcoming local body elections.
The chief minister enquired about the time required to complete the already approved caste census and the conduct of local body elections, based on the outcome of the caste census.
The officials told the chief minister that the caste enumeration format adopted by the central government in 2011 has 53 columns and it will take at least five-and-a-half months to complete the caste census by adding three more columns to the existing ones.
The chief minister ordered the officials to prepare an action plan to increase the BC quota as well as conduct the elections at the earliest to avoid any delay in the release of central funds to the local bodies. The chief minister discussed in detail the issue of increasing the BC reservation.
Former minister Jana Reddy, who attended the meeting, explained the procedures adopted in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh and the Telangana state in the conduct of the panchayat elections, cases filed in the Supreme Court on BC reservations in the local body elections by various states, judgments, and consequences.
Responding, Revanth Reddy said that a timeline should be set for the implementation of reservations in panchayat elections. The officials have been asked to consult the experts in the Panchayat Raj Act, including Jana Reddy, and retired department officials to clear their doubts and the Advocate General in the case of legal matters.
The chief minister ordered a study on the implementation of reservations in the local body elections in other states.
He said that he would convene another meeting before the commencement of the budget session of the state Assembly and make a final decision on increasing reservations based on the report prepared by the officials.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Health and Family Welfare Minister Damodara Rajanarasimha, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Rural Development Minister Sitakka, Environment Minister Konda Surekha, Chief Minister’s Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, MLC Teenmar Mallanna, and BC Commission Chairman Vakulabharanam Krishnamohan also expressed their views on the feasibility of enhancement of reservations for the BCs.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
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