Hyderabad, December 1, 2025 – In a sharp rebuke to the state government's recent policy on local body reservations, the Telangana Commission for Backward Classes (BC) has demanded the immediate cancellation of Government Order (GO) Ms No. 46, accusing it of containing factual errors and misleading information that undermine justice for backward communities.
The order, issued on November 22, 2025, outlines the allocation of reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Backward Classes (BCs) in upcoming panchayat elections, including the number of ward members and sarpanches. However, BC Commission Chairman G. Niranjan has flagged a critical flaw in paragraph 5 of the GO, which states that a "Dedicated Commission" submitted a report recommending reservations for all three categories. He described this claim as "totally false and misleading," arguing that it distorts the mandate of the Dedicated Commission.
The Dedicated Commission was constituted under GO Ms No. 49 on November 4, 2024, in compliance with a Telangana High Court directive. Its scope was explicitly limited to conducting an empirical inquiry into BC backwardness in local bodies and recommending proportional reservations solely for BCs, not SCs or STs. Niranjan questioned whether the government had overstepped by attributing broader recommendations to the panel, stating, "It is to be clarified whether the Dedicated Commission recommended the reservations for all the SC, ST and BC seats bypassing its authority; if not, who is responsible for this?"
"This GO should be withdrawn if it contains mistakes and misleading facts, and the entire reservations process has to be re-examined to do justice to the BCs," Niranjan emphasized in a statement to the media on Sunday. His call comes amid growing unrest among BC organizations, who view the order as a dilution of their rightful share in local governance.
The controversy has reignited the broader BC reservation movement in Telangana, with prominent leader R. Krishnaiah leading protests against GO 46. Krishnaiah, a former MP and BC advocate, staged a day-long hunger strike last week, demanding not only the withdrawal of the order but also the restoration of a 42% quota for BCs in Gram Panchayat elections—a benchmark established prior to recent revisions. "There were apprehensions among BC organisations over GOMs 46 as it was against the interests of BCs," he said, vowing intensified agitation if the government fails to act.
Several BC groups have echoed these sentiments, threatening widespread protests and condemning the government's approach as a betrayal of constitutional safeguards for marginalized communities. Petitioners challenging the GO in the Telangana High Court alleged that it ignored empirical data from the Dedicated BC Commission Report, which formed the basis for equitable reservation structures. However, on November 29, the court declined to stay the implementation of GO 46, allowing the panchayat poll process to proceed while hearings continue.
As of now, the Telangana government has not issued an official response to the BC Commission's demand. Sources within the cabinet indicate that the matter is slated for discussion in an upcoming meeting, potentially this week, amid pressure from allied BC leaders in the ruling Congress party. The unfolding debate highlights ongoing tensions over reservation policies in the state, where BCs constitute a significant electoral bloc.
The panchayat elections, expected early next year, are seen as a litmus test for the Revanth Reddy administration's commitment to social justice. Failure to address these concerns could escalate into a larger political showdown, with BC activists warning of a "movement like never before."
This report is based on statements from the BC Commission and multiple news sources. Further developments will be monitored.
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