Telangana orders 42% reservation for Backward Classes in local bodies
A Bill for Backward Classes’ reservation in local bodies was passed in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council in March, but is pending with the President for her assent.
The Telangana government issued an order on Friday evening to ensure 42% reservation for Backward Classes in local bodies.
The order comes after the state’s Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies) Bill, 2025, was passed in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council in March. The Bill is currently pending with the President for her assent.
According to the Government Order, it was issued as per Article 40, 243D(6), 243T(6) of the Constitution.
“Government after careful examination and considering the exceptional situation in Telangana marked by the multi-dimensional backwardness of Backward Classes in terms of social and political indicators, and in exercise of the powers conferred under the Constitution and based on empirical evidence, legislative sanction and judicial recognition, and in view of the urgent necessity to ensure the welfare, empowerment and full participation of Backward Classes, and to uphold the Constitutional vision of equality, social justice and inclusive growth, hereby order to provide 42% reservation of the seats and positions in Local Bodies to Backward Classes in the state of Telangana,” the order said.
With this order, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s Congress government in Telangana has fulfilled an election promise made through the Kamareddy Declaration. The order comes just days before September 30 — the day the High Court has asked the state government to conduct local body polls. A government source said, “The government has exhausted all means to give political reservation for the BCs.”
In November 2024, the state government had set up a dedicated commission to “conduct a contemporaneous rigorous empirical enquiry into the nature and implications of the backwardness” of BCs. The commission, headed by B Venkateshwara Rao, a retired IAS officer, recommended at least 42% reservation for BCs in rural and urban local bodies.
Meanwhile, the state had also conducted a household caste survey titled Socio-Economic, Educational, Employment, Political and Caste (SEEEP) survey. It found that 56.33% of the state’s population come under the Backward Classes.
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“Telangana government has been clear about the fact that BC reservation should come into existence before the local body polls,” a top government official said.
The Congress has been under fire for not providing reservation for BCs from both Opposition parties in the state — the BRS and the BJP.
Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice.
Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include:
Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India.
Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism.
Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities.
National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting.
Authoritativeness & Trust
A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society.
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