Latest news with #PanchayatRajAct
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong govt misleading BCs on quota issue: T BJP chief
Hyderabad: Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao on Monday accused the Congress govt of misleading the public and attempting to shift blame onto the Centre over the issue of Backward Classes (BC) reservations. He demanded an apology from the state govt for what he described as a 'betrayal' of the BC community. Addressing his first press conference in Delhi, Rao cited the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case to argue that laws placed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution are still subject to judicial review. "Even reservations implemented by the former Jayalalithaa govt in Tamil Nadu, though placed under the Ninth Schedule, are still pending in court. The Supreme Court reaffirmed this in the 2006 Kohli versus Tamil Nadu case," he pointed out. He accused the Congress of using legal complications as an excuse to delay local body elections while wrongly blaming the Centre. Rao urged the state to study the Madhya Pradesh model, which allows reservations above the 50% limit by using villages as units for calculation. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Rao also alleged that the Congress govt intended to grant 10% reservation to Muslim minorities in political representation before issuing the ordinance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo "The BJP strongly opposes any political reservation on the basis of religion. If they want to increase BC quotas, they must first amend section 285 of the Panchayat Raj Act. So far, no one has even seen a copy of the ordinance," he said. He criticised the Congress leadership for what he called political neglect. "Chief minister Revanth Reddy has visited Delhi 46 times in the last 19 months, but Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders have not met him even once. In contrast, PM Modi and Union ministers have," Rao said. "Rahul Gandhi's refusal to meet Telangana CM is an insult to the people of Telangana," he added. Meanwhile, Rao dismissed talk of factionalism in the state BJP. "There is no old-versus-new group. Some are creating this narrative intentionally. If anyone lacks discipline or damages the party, action will be taken. As state president, I will address such issues in coordination with the national leadership," he said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM Revanth Reddy gets PM Modi's time, not Rahul Gandhi's appointment: BJP
The BJP Telangana unit has said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi denying appointment to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is an 'insult' to the people of Telangana. 'The Chief Minister made 46 trips to Delhi in the last 19 months. Neither Mr. Gandhi nor other senior Congress leaders had bothered to meet him. But, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Central Ministers gave appointments to Mr. Revanth Reddy,' reminded State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Monday. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi at the Telangana Bhavan, the BJP chief said Congress leaders are 'fooling' the Telangana people with regard to the 42% quota bill for the Backward Classes (BCs) and deliberately enacting a 'drama' to avoid holding local body polls. Reiterating the party's stand against including 10% Muslims quota in the 42% reservation for the BCs, he questioned the government's seriousness about the reservations as it seemed to have overlooked the prevailing legal issues pending in the Supreme Court. 'Does the Congress government know the procedure to include the BCs quota in the Ninth Schedule? What is the opinion of their legal advisors? The government has to amend section 285 of the Panchayat Raj Act to include the BC quota,' he said. It is not fair on the part of the State government to blame the Centre without having a clear idea on how to go about implementing the BCs quota in the forthcoming local body elections, he maintained and said that even if the quota is inserted into the Ninth Schedule, it can still come under the judicial review as was made clear in the 1973 Kesavanand Bharati case by the SC.
New Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Congress outmanoeuvres rivals with BC ordinance decision
HYDERABAD: The state government's decision to take the ordinance route to implement 42% reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies instead of waiting for the BJP-led Union government to clear the state's Bill is being seen by analysts as a calculated political shot devised by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, with some even calling it a 'masterstroke'. By circumventing legislative processes, the move has not only outmanoeuvred the BJP and BRS but also redrawn the contours of caste-based electoral politics in the state, insist analysts. The ordinance, which amends the Panchayat Raj Act, signals more than just administrative urgency; it's a tactical move aimed at catching rivals off-guard. By doing so ahead of local body polls, the Congress is attempting to project itself as the only party willing to act decisively on social justice, while forcing the opposition into reactive mode. The BJP, after initially welcoming the ordinance, has begun hedging its support, raising doubts over its legal sustainability. It also accused the Congress of using BC welfare as a pre-election stunt, pointing out the party's failure to conduct a caste census during its decades-long rule at the Centre. On its part, the BRS has largely remained quiet, choosing instead to highlight procedural inconsistencies by questioning why an ordinance was needed when a Bill on the same issue was already pending with the Union government. Political observers believe that this silence from the BRS may not be accidental. The ordinance comes as a reminder of the reduced BC quota during the BRS's own tenure, and the current move puts the party in a tight spot, especially as Congress leaders credit the new policy to Rahul Gandhi's promise to align reservations with population data. The party's 'Kamareddy Declaration', which pledged enhanced BC representation in both governance and party structure, has now materialised into a legally binding order, creating pressure on other parties to match or counter the commitment. With the Governor yet to clear the ordinance, speculation is rife. If it is approved, the Congress will secure a major win. If rejected or legally challenged, the party appears ready to use that setback as ammunition against the BJP and BRS, accusing them of obstructing BC welfare.
New Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
If Rahul Gandhi were PM, we would have achieved 42 per cent BC quota: CM Revanth Reddy
HYDERABAD: Emphasising Congress's commitment to social justice, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy noted that if Rahul Gandhi were the prime minister, instead of Narendra Modi, he would have ensured constitutional protection to the bills related to enhancement of BC reservations to 42% within 48 hours. He made it clear that he would do anything to achieve 42% BC reservations in education, employment and politics. 'The Opposition doesn't have a moral right to question me on this. Nobody can question my commitment,' he asserted. He made these remarks while interacting with members of BC rights groups and leaders from the Congress at his residence on Saturday. He said that his government would appoint top advocates from the national capital if the government decision to provide 42% reservations to BCs in local body elections comes under judicial scrutiny. He suggested that the BC leaders declare social boycott of those who move court or engage in such activity to thwart BC reservations. Revanth said that the BJP leaders holding the ranks of Union ministers should prove their sincerity by exerting pressure on the prime minister to include the bills pertaining to enhancement of BC reservations in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Stating that the existing Telangana Panchayat Raj Act brought by the BRS government is proving to be an impediment to providing 42% reservations to BCs in local body elections, he said that BC leaders Gangula Kamalakar, Srinivas Goud, and Srinivas Yadav were ministers when the bill was introduced. He added that former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is using these leaders to criticise the government over the decision to bring ordinance to amend the Panchayat Raj Act. Further, he appealed to the BC leaders to stand by him to achieve reservations for BCs. He said that the 2029 elections should be held on the basis of BC reservations. Revanth Reddy also said that the state government will make a PowerPoint presentation to all the MPs of INDIA alliance on the issue.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Boycott quota ordinance opponents, says Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to BCs
HYDERABAD: In a politically charged statement, chief minister A Revanth Reddy Saturday urged Backward Classes (BC) leaders to socially boycott individuals who challenge the Congress govt's proposed ordinance providing 42% reservations for BCs in local bodies. Revanth also said the community must stand united to defend what he called a long-overdue and historic measure. Meeting a delegation of BC association leaders led by National BC Welfare Association president Jajula Srinivas Goud, Revanth said: "If anyone goes to court or sends someone to challenge the ordinance, the BC community should announce their social boycott. The BC community must make this clear." You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Revanth assured that the Congress govt would hire top lawyers from Delhi to defend the ordinance in court and called on BC leaders to act as a shield for the govt. CM slams BRS for ignoring BC community The delegation, including BC leaders from various political backgrounds, TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and a couple of ministers, met the CM at his residence and thanked him for the state cabinet's decision to go ahead with the ordinance. Revanth accused former BC ministers in the K Chandrasekhar Rao cabinet, including Gangula Kamalakar, V Srinivas Goud, and Talasani Srinivas Yadav, of opposing the same BC quota they once ignored. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo 'When the BRS govt passed the Panchayat Raj Act in 2018 capping total reservations at 50%, these very BC leaders were ministers. Now, at KCR's behest, they are opposing our move to increase BC quota. What more can I do? I'll call a cabinet meeting even at midnight for BC welfare,' he announced. Revanth also launched a scathing attack on BJP leaders accusing them of lacking sincerity on BC welfare. The CM reminded that the local body elections were postponed to accommodate the 42% quota and that the high court has given a one-month deadline to finalise reservations. He said a presentation would soon be made to Congress and INDIA bloc MPs on the issue.
