Hyderabad | August 31, 2025: The Telangana Cabinet, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, has decided to amend the state’s Panchayat Raj Act of 2018 to provide 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections. The elections are scheduled for September.
BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said after the cabinet meeting:
“The Congress government is committed to implementing 42% reservation for Backward Classes. Since the High Court has asked the state to conduct local body elections soon, we will amend the Panchayat Raj Act through a government order.”
Background
The 2018 Panchayat Raj Act, brought in by the previous BRS government, capped reservations at 50%, in line with the Supreme Court’s overall cap. In July 2025, the Revanth Reddy government passed two Bills and issued an Ordinance to cross this limit and ensure 42% reservation for BCs.
These were sent to the Governor and then forwarded to the President for assent. The Bills and the Ordinance are still awaiting approval.
To make sure the reservations are in place before the polls, the state government has chosen to implement them through a Government Order.
Wider Impact
The pending Bills also propose 42% reservation for BCs in educational institutions and government jobs. The move has been welcomed by BC political leaders who have been seeking higher representation.
Prabhakar said the Congress party promised this in the Kamareddy Declaration and is determined to deliver it. He noted that party leaders had even held protests in Delhi to push for the measure.
Other Decision
The Cabinet also nominated former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin to the Telangana Legislative Council. Azharuddin has supported the demand for BC reservation.
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