Hyderabad: The issue of BC reservations in Telangana has taken a new turn as Gopal Reddy has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the state government’s decision to grant 42% reservation to BCs in local body elections. The petition names the Telangana government and the State Election Commission as respondents and is scheduled for hearing on October 6. Earlier, a related petition filed in the Telangana High Court by Madhav Reddy of Reddy Jagruti was postponed to October 8. Despite pending legal proceedings and the government’s reservation law still awaiting Governor approval, the State Election Commission has announced the election schedule for Panchayat, MPTC, and ZPTC polls, with nominations set to begin on October 9.
The legal uncertainty has created widespread confusion among candidates and political parties. Many aspirants have already begun campaigning and incurring expenses, anticipating possible delays or cancellations. Reports suggest that Dussehra festivities were used as an opportunity to start campaigning in several villages. Senior political leaders, however, have advised party workers to exercise caution, noting that the High Court ruling on October 8 will determine whether the elections proceed as scheduled or face a stay.
Legal experts say the Supreme Court’s involvement has further complicated the situation. During the High Court proceedings, lawyers representing the petitioner cited Supreme Court judgments limiting total reservations to 50%, arguing that allocating 42% solely to BCs violates these norms. The apex court is expected to review the matter, leaving uncertainty over whether it will grant a stay, allow elections to continue, or seek further deliberation. Meanwhile, political parties and candidates are closely monitoring developments, with tensions rising over the possible outcomes of the pending court decisions.