HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) senior leader and former MP B. Vinod Kumar recently asserted that very few in Telangana, outside of the ruling Congress party, truly believed in the state government’s GO 9, which aimed to implement an increased 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections.
Speaking in Hyderabad on Friday, Mr. Vinod Kumar highlighted a prevailing sentiment among Backward Classes across Telangana: that the Revanth Reddy-led government’s move to boost reservation for local elections lacked genuine commitment. He cited Chief Minister Reddy’s past remarks about people’s susceptibility to deceit, suggesting this was underscored by the High Court’s Thursday decision to stay the implementation of GO 9.
During a press conference alongside party general secretaries S. Bharat Kumar and C. Kalyan, Mr. Vinod Kumar criticized Deputy Chief Minister M. Bhatti Vikramarka for grouping the BRS with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in his condemnation regarding the BC reservation issue. Mr. Kumar recalled that the previous K. Chandrasekhar Rao government had also passed similar BC reservation bills, which are still awaiting presidential assent.
The BRS leader further questioned the Congress’s priorities, referencing an instance where the party amended the Constitution to protect Indira Gandhi’s Prime Ministership. “If the Congress could amend the Constitution for an individual, why is it not making a similar effort for Backward Class reservation?” he challenged.
He reiterated that the Supreme Court, in the past Krishnamurthy case, had explicitly stated that increasing the BC quota necessitated a constitutional amendment. He highlighted that the then-ruling Congress at the Centre failed to pursue such an amendment. Mr. Vinod Kumar also questioned why AICC leader Rahul Gandhi, who has publicly embraced Prime Minister Narendra Modi on minor matters, wouldn’t do the same for a crucial issue like enhanced BC reservation.
Mr. Vinod Kumar observed that neither Mr. Gandhi nor AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has advocated for increased BC reservation in Parliament. He suggested that a higher quota remains achievable if Mr. Gandhi personally discusses the matter with Prime Minister Modi. He also clarified that Tamil Nadu’s 69% reservation for BCs applies specifically to education and employment, not to local body elections.