Telangana: CM Revanth asks officials to prepare action plan to increase BC quota in local body elections

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 15 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Monday ordered the officials to prepare an action plan to increase the BC (Backward Classes) quota in the upcoming local body Panchayat elections.
The Chief Minister held a review of the proposal to enhance the BC quota in the local body elections at the Secretariat today.
The CM asked the officials to furnish the details of the implementation of reservation in the Panchayat elections and also the proposal to increase the quota in the upcoming elections.
The officials explained to the Chief Minister the procedure followed in the last panchayat elections and the preparations being made for the upcoming panchayat elections. The CM inquired the officials about the requirement of time to complete the already approved cast census and the conduct of local body elections based on the outcome of the caste census.
Officials told the CM that the caste census was already conducted in Karnataka in 2015 and in Bihar in 2023. The details of the caste census in Andhra Pradesh have not been released yet. Officials explained that the caste enumeration format adopted by the central government in 2011 has 53 columns and it will take at least five and half months to complete the caste census by adding three more columns.
CM Reddy ordered the officials to prepare an action plan to increase the BC quota as well as to conduct the elections at the earliest to avoid delay in the release of central funds to the local bodies.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Health and Family Welfare Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Rural Development Minister Sitakka, Finance Minister Konda Surekha, Chief Minister's Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, MLC Thi Namar Mallanna, former state minister K Janareddy, BC Commission Chairman Vakulabharanam Krishnamohan also expressed their views on the feasibility of enhancement of reservations.
Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, CMO Secretary V. Seshadri, Chief Minister's Secretary Dr. G. Chandrasekhar Reddy, BC Welfare Department Secretary Burra Venkatesham, Panchayat Raj Department Secretary D.S. Lokesh Kumar, Law Department Secretary Rendla Tirupati and others are present. (ANI)