Hyderabad: The Telangana cabinet will meet on Nov 25, with a key decision expected on writing to the State Election Commission to go ahead with the rural local bodies election notification by maintaining the 50% cap on reservations for BCs, SCs and STs. If cleared, the SEC is likely to announce the local body election schedule on Nov 27 or by the end of the month, sources said. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy will also review major upcoming events and governance issues, including the Telangana Rising Global Summit on Dec 8-9, the two-year celebrations of the Congress gov, a department-wise performance review, steps to strengthen power distribution companies, and the proposal for a third power distribution company to handle free power supply schemes. The cabinet will also take up matters related to the Yadagirigutta Temple Development Authority, a source added.BC panel’s fresh reportThe one-man dedicated BC commission chairman, Busani Venkateswara Rao, has submitted a fresh report on BC reservations, reiterating that the total quota in rural local body polls cannot exceed the 50% ceiling. The report was circulated among ministers on Thursday and Friday for approval. With signatures reportedly completed, the govt is expected to issue a GO in the next couple of days. The panchayat raj department and district collectors will then fix reservations based on the GO and send them to the SEC, a senior official said. Both the govt and the SEC will present the status of election preparations before the high court on Nov 24. The following day, the cabinet is likely to finalise the election dates and communicate them to the SEC. Under the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018, the govt must confirm the availability of police forces and administrative machinery before the SEC announces the schedule.BC groups flay govtMeanwhile, a state-level convention of BC associations on Friday sharply criticised the govt’s decision to link BC reservations with party ticket allocation. Leaders including national president of the BC welfare association and Rajya Sabha member R Krishnaiah and former BC commission chairman Vakulabharanam Krishna Mohan Rao warned of a state-wide agitation if the 42% quota is not legally extended to BC community.
