
Cabinet to decide on BC quota, poll phases amid tight court deadline
The decision will also factor in the extended monsoon, which could continue through Sept and spill into Oct.
The Telangana high court has directed the govt to complete the rural local body elections by Sep 30. This means the govt must finalise both the reservation structure and the election schedule by the end of this month. The State Election Commission (SEC), having completed almost all pre-poll preparations, requires a minimum of 20 days to conduct the elections once the govt issues the necessary orders.
In 2019, the panchayat elections were held in three phases, with the process — from notification to declaration of results — completed between Jan 7 and Jan 30. Sources indicate that this time the option of conducting polls in two phases has not been ruled out, and the cabinet will make the final call.
You Can Also Check:
Hyderabad AQI
|
Weather in Hyderabad
|
Bank Holidays in Hyderabad
|
Public Holidays in Hyderabad
|
Gold Rates Today in Hyderabad
|
Silver Rates Today in Hyderabad
Before the cabinet meeting, chief minister A Revanth Reddy will seek the opinion of the Congress political affairs committee (PAC) on the BC quota proposal.
Two bills seeking to raise BC reservation in local bodies to 42% have not yet received Presidential assent. Similarly, the state govt's ordinance to remove the 50% cap on total reservations under the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, is still pending with the President.
"The PAC, which includes the CM, deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, all ministers, AICC in-charge for Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan, TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and other key leaders, is expected to meet on Aug 16 or 17," a senior Congress leader told TOI.
"It will decide whether to issue a GO or an ordinance to implement the 42% BC quota, and assess whether such a move will survive legal scrutiny given that the 50% cap has not been removed. Options under discussion include contesting the matter in court, extending reservations through party measures, or approaching the Supreme Court," he elaborated.
Ahead of the cabinet meeting, the CM will also meet the DGP and senior police officials to review security arrangements for the elections. In addition, he will hold discussions with the panchayat raj and rural development department to evaluate their readiness for conducting the polls within the tight timeline mandated by the court.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Opposition targets PM on RSS praise: ‘Insult to freedom struggle, shameful'
The opposition on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for praising the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) in his Independence Day address. Terming the speech 'stale, hypocritical, insipid, and troubling', Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said the PM mentioned the RSS since he was 'decisively weakened' after the 2024 Lok Sabha results and was 'reliant on (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat's good offices for the extension of his tenure'. 'The most troubling element of the PM's speech today was his name-checking of the RSS from the ramparts of the Red Fort — a blatant breach of the spirit of a constitutional, secular republic. It is nothing but a desperate attempt to appease the organisation in the run-up to his (PM's) 75th birthday next month,' Ramesh posted on X. 'This politicisation of Independence Day for personal and organisational gain is deeply corrosive to our democratic ethos,' he said, adding, 'The PM was tired today. Soon he will be retired.' Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said the PM's speech was 'not of uniting but breaking India'. 'By naming the Sangh from the Red Fort, the PM has insulted Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Constitution of India and the Indian tricolour,' Khera said on X. Modi on Friday hailed 100 years of RSS as a 'very proud and glorious' journey of the 'world's biggest NGO' and lauded all its volunteers for their dedicated service to the nation. The BJP, on its part, said the PM had spoken about the Sangh to commemorate its 100th year. 'In 1963, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to join the Republic Day parade and called it 'an organisation of patriots…' As the RSS marks 100 years, it is fitting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentions it from the Red Fort,' said BJP IT and media cell chief Amit Malviya. The BJP also questioned the absence of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav took a veiled dig at the RSS after it was lauded by the PM, saying 'it should congratulate the British on the completion of its 100 years'. 'The BJP itself had resolved to follow the path of secularism. The RSS ideology does not align with secularism… On this completion of 100 years, they should congratulate the British. Because we have heard and some historians have also written that some organisations were made by the British so that 'Bharat' could be divided on religious lines…,' he said. CPI (M) general secretary M A Baby accused Modi of 'dishonouring the memory of India's martyrs and the spirit of our freedom movement' by lauding the RSS. 'This is profoundly unacceptable and shameful,' he said in a post on X. '… it is deeply regrettable that Prime Minister Modi…chose to praise the RSS — an organisation with a dubious historical record,' Baby said. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said 'glorifying the RSS in an Independence Day speech is an insult' to the freedom struggle. 'They (RSS) never joined the fight for Independence and hated Gandhi more than they ever opposed the British… RSS rejects the values of inclusive nationalism that motivated our freedom fighters,' he said. 'The ideology of Hindutva believes in exclusion and is antithetical to the values of our Constitution. Modi could have gone to Nagpur to praise RSS as a Swayamsevak, why did he have to do it from the Red Fort as the Prime Minister,' he asked. RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha accused PM Modi of having spoken from a perspective of 'dog-whistling and politics', having 'distorted history' and 'negated the foundation' on which the country was built. 'Dog-whistling, politics…it does not behove you even during elections; but when you…spread lies from the ramparts of the Red Fort, legitimise hatred and enmity…it is an opportunity for you, Pradhan Mantri ji, to introspect where we have reached from 'A tryst with destiny…'' he said. The Trinamool Congress accused the Prime Minister of using his I-Day address to target 'infiltrators' as a 'new enemy'. 'After Andolanjeevis etc now 'infiltrators' are the new target. Again, new 'missions' announced while targeting past governments. When will Modi give an August 15 speech truthfully, addressing his own record of 11 years marked by over-promising and under-achieving,' TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose posted on X. The Congress reiterated its concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar among other issues such as unemployment, 'open misuse' of constitutional bodies and investigative agencies over the last decade under the BJP. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge credited the party's 'visionary leaders' for having laid the foundation for a strong India and accused the BJP of being 'ready to stoop to any level of immorality to stay in power'. 'Large-scale irregularities in elections are coming to light. Under the guise of SIR, opposition voters are being openly removed from the rolls,' he said.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Revanth pitches Telangana as ‘game changer' in India's $30 trillion vision
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday used his Independence Day address at Golconda Fort to project Telangana as a 'game changer' in the transformation of India into a $30 trillion economy, while making a strong appeal to the Centre to clear the pending 42% BC reservation bills and ordinance. "Telangana means business, and there will be protection for investments and profits too, creating jobs and development," he declared, vowing that the state would not rest until it was 'number one on the world stage' despite inheriting over ₹8 lakh crore in debt from the previous BRS regime. Unveiling his govt's long-term roadmap, Revanth announced that the 'Telangana Rising–2047' vision document would be released before Dec 9. It targets a $1 trillion state economy by 2035 and $3 trillion by 2047, alongside transforming Hyderabad into a global city to compete with New York, Tokyo, Singapore. He urged citizens to join the govt in 'repulsing conspiracies' and misconceptions by vested interests. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Gold Rates Today in Hyderabad | Silver Rates Today in Hyderabad On the contentious BC reservation bills, Revanth was emphatic. "On the occasion of the 79th Independence Day celebrations, I once again demand the Centre to take a quick decision on the pending 42 per cent quota bills and the ordinance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Social justice is in the DNA of the Congress. We have categorised the SCs and fulfilled their decades long dream. We have done our part by conducting a caste survey, passing the two quota bills and the ordinance. Now, it is up to the central govt to approve them," he emphasised. Addressing water rights on the Krishna and Godavari rivers, the CM said his govt was working on a strategic plan to secure permanent rights and rectify "losses caused by the negligence of past rulers." He pledged completion of pending irrigation projects to benefit the last ayacut of Telangana. Listing welfare and development measures, he said: "Our govt has spent ₹1.13 lakh crore on farmers' welfare alone, ₹46,689 crore on women's welfare, and given 60,000 govt jobs to youth." Revanth also detailed the financial challenges inherited by the Congress govt — ₹8.21 lakh crore in total liabilities, including ₹6.71 lakh crore in debts, ₹40,154 crore in dues to employees and schemes, and ₹1.09 lakh crore in arrears for SC/ST sub-plans, Singareni, electricity, and other departments. "We have completed the debt service of ₹2.20 lakh crore — ₹1.32 lakh crore principal and ₹88,178 crore towards interest — since the Congress came into office," he claimed. Despite this burden, he said, "We are moving forward with the inspiration of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi and the builder of a new India, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the support of the people. I strongly believe in a saying — Where there is a will, there is a way. We have a will… we have a vision. Telangana Rising–2047. This govt's mission is to make that vision a reality." Revanth framed his govt's approach as a 'two-pronged strategy' — competing with global cities on one side and delivering welfare to the poor on the other. "We have developed Telangana as a role model for the country within 20 months, writing a new history of transparency in governance, modernity in development, and welfare," he added. The ceremony concluded with the CM presenting awards to meritorious police officials and handing over a ₹1 crore cheque to singer Rahul Sipliganj, who gained global recognition with the Oscar-winning song 'Naatu Naatu' from RRR film. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
PM praise for RSS in I-Day speech troubling, regrettable, says oppn
NEW DELHI: The "most troubling" element of PM Modi's speech was his "name-checking of RSS", Congress said Friday, terming it "a blatant breach of the spirit of a constitutional, secular Republic". Describing the speech as "stale, hypocritical and insipid", Congress' Jairam Ramesh said, "It's nothing but a desperate attempt to appease the organisation in the run-up to his 75th birthday next month. Decisively weakened after the events of June 4, 2024 (LS poll result), he is now at their complete mercy and reliant on (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat's good offices for extension of his tenure post-Sept." "Politicisation of Independence Day for personal and organisational gain is deeply corrosive to our democratic ethos. The PM was tired today. Soon he'll be retired," he said. While CPM general secretary MA Baby said it is "deeply regrettable" that the PM chose to praise RSS, an organisation with a "dubious historical record", TMC accused Modi of using his speech to target a "new enemy", this time in the form of "infiltrators". Sena (UBT) neta Sanjay Raut said Modi has become "a real Congressman" by endorsing 'swadeshi', as it was Congress which first promoted indigenous manufacturing.