CM and ministers weigh pros and cons as the High Court is set to hear case on local body reservations

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy held a crucial meeting with senior ministers and officials to discuss the upcoming High Court hearing on reservations in local body elections, even as the government awaits the court’s verdict with anticipation.

The meeting, attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, senior BC Ministers, and senior officials, focused on the implications of the High Court’s decision and possible next steps.

According to sources, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the High Court would take a positive view of the government’s decision to provide 42% reservations to BCs in local body elections. “We have followed the constitutional framework and the Supreme Court guidelines,” he reportedly told his Cabinet colleagues.

The discussions also touched upon the possibility of challenging the High Court’s ruling in the Supreme Court if the verdict goes against the State government. The issue has become both politically sensitive and legally significant.

The Revanth Reddy government had earlier passed a Bill in the Assembly to formalise the reservations structure and sent it to the Governor for assent, but it remains pending. Meanwhile, the government went ahead and issued a Government Order (GO) finalising the reservation matrix.

The State Election Commission (SEC) subsequently released the election schedule confirming the reservation categories for each post.

The issue reached the High Court after petitions challenged the GO, questioning whether it complied with the Supreme Court’s directive on limiting the reservations ceiling to 50%. Several Congress leaders from Backward Classes (BC) communities have impleaded themselves in the High Court case, urging the bench to hear their arguments in support of the government’s decision.

BJP MP and National BC Welfare Association president R. Krishnaiah also impleaded himself in the case. The Congress, meanwhile, has criticised the BRS for its “silence and hypocrisy” on the issue. “None of the BRS leaders have impleaded themselves. Their double standards are evident,” a senior Congress leader said. If the verdict goes against the State, it could delay the local body polls.