Revanth to mount pressure on Centre for 42% OBC quota

CM and deputy CM will meet Cong high command on Thursday and work out a strategy to bring the pressure on Centre to approve bills for OBC quota

- Srinivasa Rao Apparasu

The Congress government in Telangana is pushing for the Centre’s consent for bills seeking to provide 42% reservations for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies, party leaders familiar with the development said, as local body elections in Telangana are scheduled to be held before September 30 as per the state high court order dated June 25.

“As part of the exercise, chief minister A Revanth Reddy and deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka will visit New Delhi on Thursday to take up the matter with the Congress high command and work out a strategy to bring pressure on the Centre to approve the bills for the OBC quota,” said Mallu Ravi, Telangana Congress MPs’ convener.

The MP, representing Nagarkurnool parliamentary constituency, said Revanth and Vikramarka would meet Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and request them to raise the issue in the ongoing Parliament session.

“Revanth would brief the senior leaders on the caste census being undertaken in Telangana and the proposed 42% reservation for the OBCs, while also seeking their guidance and suggestions,” he said.

On March 17, Telangana state legislative assembly passed two separate bills for extension of 42% reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in local bodies and also in education and employment.