Row over quota in panchayat polls
Reservations to be finalised on June 7
A controversy is brewing over the quantum of reservations in the panchayat elections set to be held in July. The Backward Class groups demanded reservation in proportion to their population, as in the case with the SCs and STs.
However, the government’s decision to reserve those panchayats for STs where the tribal population is more, has resulted in the community getting nearly 50 per cent quota in some districts. Based on the population, STs are entitled only for 6 per cent quota.
In every category, 50 per cent posts are reserved for women, for which draw of lots will be conducted to select the offices and wards for sarpanches and ward members to be represented by women.
The reservations were supposed to be finalised on June 7 as per the originial schedule. But due to tussle over the quantum of reservations, the process has been delayed.
Officials have completed the enumeration of BC voters to determine reservations. However, BC groups are strongly opposing this by saying that their population should be considered to determine reservations and not just the voters. They questioned as to why only voters were enumerated in case of BCs while the total population was considered in the case of SCs and STs.
BC leader and MLA, R Krishnaiah, said, “Even in 2013, when panchayat elections were held in undivided AP, only BC voters were considered for reservations. When we protested and challenged it courts, the government promised to consider the BC population in the subsequent election. The TRS government in Telangana state has again adopted the old method to determine BC reservations. Hence we will be forced to move the High Court against the government.”
The BCs argue that they comprise 52 per cent of the state's population and as such they should be given 52 per cent reservations in the panchayats.
The government upgraded nearly 500 tribal hamlets (thandas) into gram panchayats and announced that these panchayats were reserved only for STs. Panchayat Raj minister Jupally Krishna Rao said that the government would finalise reservations for all panchayats within a week and complete elections in July.
The term of the present panchayats will end on July 31.