With the political turmoil in Telangana gaining ground over the contentious issue of Backward Classes (BC) reservations, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is preparing to challenge both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with its rescheduled BC Garjana rally in Karimnagar on August 14, which was initially slated for August 8.
The rally is being considered a pivotal moment for the BRS as it seeks to re-establish itself as the primary advocate for BC rights. The rally is an imperative part of the BRS's new campaign to demand a 42 pc reservation for BCs in education, employment, and local body elections. This demand has become increasingly prominent recently, as caste-based reservations have emerged as a key issue in Telangana’s political discourse.
BRS ramping up pressure on Congress
The BRS is trying to increase pressure on the Congress government to place the BC quota legislation under the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which would protect it from judicial review. The party believes this move will expose what it sees as the Congress’s insincerity in providing reservations for BCs. The BRS is also targeting the BJP, accusing it of "escaping from its responsibility" by not facilitating the clearance of two related bills in Delhi.
The rally is likely to bring thousands of workers and supporters, especially people from rural Telangana, who are deeply concerned about issues of caste identity and social justice. The BRS is exploiting the rally to face the ruling Congress directly, branding it as a party that has failed to fulfil its pre-election promises to BC communities.
Central to the criticism is the Congress’s Kamareddy Declaration, a set of promises unveiled during the 2023 election campaign that included enhanced BC reservations and welfare measures.
Also read: Kavitha, HMS unite to aid Telangana coal miners
"The Congress promised the moon to BC voters, but the Kamareddy Declaration remains on paper to this day," said BRS working president KT Rama Rao during a preparatory meeting for the rally. He stated that the BRS will hold the Congress accountable to ensure BC communities receive the justice they deserve.
The party is banking on the rally to amplify its message and expose what it calls the Congress’s "betrayal" of marginalised communities.
Internal struggles
BRS leadership confronts an internal surprise challenge. BRS MLC K Kavitha, has started her own campaign on BC reservations and created internal differences. Kavitha's "42 pc BC Quota Now" and her demand for a separate quota for the Muslims apart from the BC category is said to be picking up steam.
Her recent moves, such as a public fast to draw attention to the BC cause, have placed the BRS leadership in a tight spot. Party insiders say that the BC Garjana rally is partly a bid by the BRS leadership to take back the BC agenda from Kavitha and stop her from taking over the narrative.
The BC Garjana rally is being seen as something beyond a demonstration of the BRS's position. It is a litmus test of the party's capability to handle a rapidly evolving political scenario. While the Congress is fighting to deliver on its promises to the BC community and the BJP creating a counter-narrative, the challenge ahead of the BRS will be tough. The BC vote is a prize that no party in Telangana can afford to ignore.
Follow us
