BC Minister Ponnam calls for unity to secure 42% reservations for BCs

Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar pushes for increased BC reservations, cites Tamil Nadu's success, and urges unity for bill passage.

Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has expressed gratitude to all those who supported the bill aimed at increasing reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) to 42%. He also dismissed concerns over the 50% reservation cap, stating that the Central government provided an avenue through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment in 2019. He added that the amendment allowed reservations for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) beyond the 50% limit. Telangana Assembly passed The Telangana Backward Classes (reservation of seats in rural and urban local bodies) Bill, 2025, on Monday, March 17.

Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, he pointed out that Tamil Nadu has successfully implemented 68% reservations through the 76th Constitutional Amendment, setting a precedent.

The Minister also reassured that legal hurdles would not obstruct the implementation of the bill, as a dedicated commission and a BC commission have been established to ensure a structured and factual approach. He detailed that the survey conducted to determine BC representation was extensive, with one enumerator assigned to every 150 households.

Expressing confidence in the bill’s success in the Parliament, Mr. Prabhakar said Telangana would approach the Central government with the survey-backed proposal. He urged all political parties to unite in their support.

Calling for collective action, he urged all political parties to march to Delhi in unison to ensure the bill’s passage. He expressed happiness that the Chief Minister has taken the lead in the movement and emphasised that the legislation should serve as a model for the nation.