Backward Classes groups have outpaced Congress by organising the protest before the state government could arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Modi, following the passage of two reservation bills on 17 March, 2025
Published Apr 02, 2025 | 12:05 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 02, 2025 | 12:05 AM
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy (X)
Synopsis: The demand for 42% reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in Telangana is gaining momentum. On April 2, 12 BC organizations will hold a maha dharna at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, urging the inclusion of two Telangana Assembly-passed bills in the Ninth Schedule. Supported by Congress leaders, including CM Revanth Reddy and Rahul Gandhi, the protest seeks constitutional amendments for enhanced BC reservations
The demand for 42 percent reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in education, employment, and local bodies is gathering momentum in Telangana.
Twelve BC organisations from the state will hold a maha dharna at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, 2 April, urging the Central government to include two Telangana Assembly-passed bills in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. These bills aim to secure enhanced reservations for BCs.
Around 1,500 BC leaders from Telangana have already departed for Delhi, with an additional 1,500 leaders from other states expected to join in solidarity.
The Congress party, a long-time supporter of the BC cause, will have senior leaders participating in the protest. Rahul Gandhi, along with Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, PCC President B Mahesh Kumar Goud, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Endowments Minister K Surekha, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, BC MLAs Adi Srinivas, Birla Ilaiah, Vakiti Srihari, Makkan Singh Raj Thakur, Prakash Goud and Eerlapalli Sankaraiah will attend the dharna to show their support.
The Telangana Congress delegation will call on the central ministers after the dharna and seek their support for bringing in an amendment to the Constitution to facilitate implementation of enhancement in BC reservations in Telangana.
The BC groups have stolen a march over the Congress by organising the protest before the state government could secure a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier, the Chief Minister had planned to lead an all-party delegation to Delhi after the Assembly passed the two reservation bills on 17 March 2025, raising BC quotas to 42 percent in jobs, education, and local body elections.
Meanwhile, BJP Rajya Sabha member R Krishnaiah, who also heads the Backward Classes Welfare Association, urged the chief minister to convene an all-party meeting for swift implementation of the BC reservation bills.
In an open letter, he pointed out that while the state government could enforce reservations in local body elections by issuing a Government Order, increasing quotas in education and employment requires a Constitutional amendment. He suggested Telangana follow precedents set by Bihar and Tamil Nadu in securing such amendments.
With growing political awareness among BC communities about their rights and demographic influence, all major parties are now prioritising BC welfare—recognising that their support is crucial for electoral success.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
