Congress to implead in Special Leave Petition in SC on BC quota in local bodies

The Congress has decided to implead itself in the Special Leave Petition (SLP) which the Telangana government is scheduled to file in the Supreme Court challenging the Telangana High Court’s recent decision to stay the implementation of 42% quota for the Backward Classes in local bodies polls.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, who is in New Delhi along with Minister Vakati Srihari held wide ranging consultations with the legal experts, including Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Manu Singhvi, on Monday.

“The draft of the SLP has been sent to Mr. Singhvi and the petition will be filed anytime,” Mr. Goud told The Hindu tonight stating that the Congress too decided to implead in the case.

The TPCC chief earlier in the day called on AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and enquired about his health. During his interaction with the party president, Mr. Goud explained the steps taken by the Telangana government on the way forward following the HC stay on the reservations. He also pointed out how the party is committed to provide 42% quota for the BCs in the ensuing local bodies polls.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy held a detailed meeting with senior officials and later held talks with Mr. Singhvi to explore the possibility of getting a favourable verdict to go ahead with the polls.

The government intends to explore all legal options before coming to any conclusion on how to go about the BC quota in the local bodies polls.

If the Telangana government fails to get positive outcome from the Supreme Court, it will be forced to implement the 42% quota in allotment of tickets to the aspirants from BC communities. This in a way is likely to put the Congress on a high moral ground and bring pressure on the opposition parties to toe the same line.

The Congress has already taken a lead in its pro-BC stand by allocating the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency ticket to BC leader Naveen Yadav, putting the other parties on the defensive. The BRS has nominated the wife of late BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath while the BJP is still to finalise it nominee.