Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday sent deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka and two ministers from the Backward Classes (BC) community to New Delhi to explain to senior advocates that the Telangana govt issued GO 9 extending 42% reservations to BCs in local bodies by duly following the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, and to ensure that a strong argument is put forth defending the quota enhancement in the apex court.The Supreme Court has listed the case for hearing on Monday in connection with a petition stating that “GO 9 is anti-constitutional and in violation of the apex court fixed 50% cap on reservations and also against the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act of 2018”.The high court has also listed its hearing on a petition filed challenging the GO 9, on Oct 8.The State Election Commission (SEC) has announced the local bodies’ election schedule and a notification would be issued on Oct 9, depending on the outcome of the court cases.With uncertainty prevailing in the BC community, political parties and aspirants, Bhatti Vikramarka, BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar and animal husbandry minister Vakiti Srihari rushed to the national capital on Sunday evening.They would meet Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Siddhartha Dave, who are expected to appear on behalf of the Telangana govt in the apex court and defend GO 9 issued on Sept 26 providing 42% quota to BCs in local bodies.They left the city after discussing the issue with AICC in charge Meenakshi Natarajann and chief minister.The CM told them to explain to the advocates about the caste survey, obtaining the empirical data of the BCs, appointment of a dedicated BC commission, expert group’s analysis of the caste survey, two BC quota bills passed by the assembly, and also that 50% cap on quota being lifted from the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act.They also discussed the stand to be taken by the party in case of an adverse verdict in the SC. The CM also spoke to the apex court senior advocates over phone, it was reliably learnt.Sources said Revanth told Bhatti-led team to make it clear to Singhvi and Dave that the two 42% BC quota Bills and lifting of 50% cap Bills were pending with the President for over five months. Also, that the elections to rural local bodies have been delayed already by nearly two years due to which they have been deprived of central funds for development work. Even the Telangana high court had set a deadline to the state govt to conduct panchayat polls before Sept 30, following which 42% quota GO was issued on Sept 26 and the poll schedule announced on Sept 29.The Bhatti team would also discuss with Singhvi and Dave the legal points to be presented before the high court too when it hears the case on Oct 8.Speaking to media persons at the airport, Ponnam Prabhakar said conspiracies were hatched to stop the 42% quota to the BCs.“But the Congress govt is committed and will go all out to protect the 42% BC quota. Many Congress leaders and BC welfare associations have already decided to implead in support of BC quota,” he said, adding that Congress was committed to the social justice call given by Rahul Gandhi.
