Dinesh Akula
Has Revanth Reddy led Congress government in Telangana walked into the trap of enhancing BC quota vis-à-vis holding local bodies’ elections? It appears so. Though the government entered this trap on the pressure from the opposition parties BRS and BJP and BC outfits, CM Revanth will have to face the consequences if the polls are delayed beyond limits. The polls are postponed. But till when? Nobody is sure.
The political struggle over Backward Class (BC) reservations in Telangana now impacts local elections. The ruling Congress government wants to push for 42% BC reservations. This process is delaying local body elections, and experts warn that it could lead to bigger problems in governance and finances.
The Telangana government plans to conduct the second phase of the caste census by February 28. This step is crucial before the BC Reservation Bill is introduced during the state’s budget session on March 15. Congress aims to raise this issue at the national level. Rahul Gandhi, 100 Congress MPs, and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy plan to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April. Their goal is to push for including BC reservations in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution, similar to the model used in Tamil Nadu.
The local body elections are currently on hold because the State Election Commission (SEC) cannot conduct them until the percentage for BC reservations is clearly defined by law. Many local bodies, like municipalities and gram panchayats, will soon see their terms expire. The government is hesitating to hold elections without clear guidelines, which creates uncertainty at the local level.
Funds will freeze
Delaying the elections also affects funding. Local bodies depend on money from the 15th Finance Commission and other central schemes for basic infrastructure, development, and welfare projects. If the elections do not happen on time, local bodies might lose their financial independence and have to rely entirely on state grants, which may not be delivered promptly.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticises the Congress government, claiming that the caste census and reservation bill are just political strategies to gain support from BC voters. They argue that the Congress is intentionally delaying the elections. The BJP warns that a longer delay will harm governance and prevent local bodies from receiving essential funds.
BC organisations and some Congress leaders are also worried. They want a clear election timeline and fear delays could lead to administrative problems. If funds remain stuck and local representatives lose their powers, delays could seriously affect development in Telangana’s rural and urban areas.
As deadlines near and pressure increases, the Congress government faces a tough choice. Pushing forward with the BC reservation plans is politically important but could negatively impact local governance and finances. It remains to be seen whether the government can manage both issues or if it will fall prey to political conflicts. Should the government have remained firm on a timeline in holding the elections to local bodies, which are crucial in our political set up? Answer to this will come only after sometime later.
(Dinesh Akula is chief editor of #Hashtag U)
