Participating in a discussion the Assembly, the chief minister said the Bill was in fulfillment of the Congress's commitment to enhancement reservations for the BCs.
Published Mar 17, 2025 | 8:00 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 17, 2025 | 8:01 PM
Revanth Reddy thanked everyone who actively participated in the caste survey, and the parties that cooperated with the government.
Synopsis: Participating in a discussion on the Bill in the state Assembly, Revanth Reddy said he asked BJP MPs and the floor leader to help fix an appointment with the Prime Minister so that he could convince him to make Parliament adopt the Bill. He also requested the BRS’s support for the state’s cause.
The Telangana State Assembly on Monday, 17 March, passed the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Bill, 2025.
The Bill, tabled in the Assembly earlier, envisaged a 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies, education, and employment.
Speaking on the debate on the Bill, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy vowed to ensure Parliament’s approval for providing a 42 percent reservation for BCs.
The chief minister said the Bill was in fulfillment of the Congress’s commitment to enhancement reservations for the BCs.
“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had promised to enhance BC reservation to 42 percent if our party came to power in the state. Soon after assuming power, our people’s government launched the BC caste census on February 4, 2024, which was the beginning of the process of redemption of our promise,” he told the Assembly.
Revanth Reddy thanked everyone who actively participated in the caste survey, and the parties that cooperated with the government. He said the party and the government were now able to send a clear message that the entire Assembly had arrived at a consensus.
He said the previous BRS government had sent a proposal to the Governor to increase BC reservation to 37 percent.
“This government is withdrawing the earlier proposal and sending a new proposal of 42 percent reservation for BCs in education, employment, and local bodies,” he said.
Revanth Reddy said that 4 February would be observed as ‘Social Justice Day’ as it marked the Assembly adopting the resolution, enhancing the BC quota.
After eliciting opinions and views from many sections, the state government introduced the Bill to provide 42 percent reservation to BCs.
He urged Union ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and BJP floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy to take the responsibility of getting an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the Bill forward.
The chief minister promised proactive measures. “I am also requesting Rahul Gandhi to raise this issue in Parliament for inclusion in the ninth schedule of the Constitution. I am entrusting the responsibility to TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud to seek time to meet Rahul Gandhi soon,” he said.
He maintained that the caste census report was 100 percent correct.
“It is the responsibility of everyone to see that Parliament adopts the BC reservation Bill. We will not quit until a 42 percent reservation is achieved for BCs. We are committed to our Kamareddy Declaration,” he said.
He also urged BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao to support the state’s efforts. He said that the constitution of the Mandal Commission itself provided legal validity for BC reservations.
The chief minister said the BC reservation process would be completed in a year. He said that 56.36 percent of the population in Telangana belonged to the BCs.
“Telangana is proud to lead the social revolution in India. It is my honour to announce the longest pending demand of the subaltern groups since Indian Independence, the yearning of our brothers & sisters belonging to the Backward Castes, on being counted & recognised in an official census – has finally found deliverance,” he later posted on X.
“Today, as the Leader of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, as Chief Minister, I solemnly declare that based on the most scientific, methodically rigorous, and excruciating efforts of our people, we can say that the OBC population in Telangana is 56.36 percent.
We are now resolving to ensure 42 percent reservations for this group in all walks of life – education, jobs, employment & political representation. Be on the right side of history & let each one of us become a champion of this historic move,” he added.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
