Telangana, The Telangana Cabinet has decided to go ahead with its plan to hold local body elections in the state by implementing 42 percent reservation for backward classes (BCs) in local bodies. The cabinet has also decided to bring an ordinance to amend the 2018 law regarding reservation in local bodies. The 19th state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was held on Thursday, July 10 at Dr. BR Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat. This important decision was taken in this meeting.

The cabinet meeting lasted for about 4 hours, during which the proceedings of the previous cabinet meeting were reviewed by the ministers. Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said that the Advocate General was also invited to the cabinet meeting to seek his advice on how to proceed with the local body elections without any legal hindrances.

Elections will be held in Telangana within three months
The High Court last week directed the state government to conduct local body elections within three months. In such a situation, the state government is preparing to conduct local body elections rapidly. The government plans to conduct body elections with a provision of 42 percent reservation.

Preparations to conduct elections with 42 percent quota
Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said that the 50 percent limit on reservation has already been exceeded in various states, including those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and expressed confidence in conducting elections in Telangana with 42 percent quota for backward classes.

The Act passed in 2018 will be amended
To implement 42 percent reservation in the local body elections of Telangana, the government will have to amend the Act passed in 2018. For this, an ordinance will be brought in the Assembly. Only after the ordinance is passed from here, the law will change and the way for 42 percent reservation will be cleared.

The bill has already been passed
Srinivas Reddy said that the state assembly had already passed the bill giving 42 percent reservation to the backward castes. It was sent to the central government through the governor for the President's approval. However, this bill could not be passed. That is why the Advocate General was also invited to the meeting this time, so that legal changes could be made without any hindrance.