Telangana Shuts Down as BC JAC-Led Bandh Over 42% Reservation Demand Gets Widespread Support

Hyderabad, Oct 2025 : Normal life across Telangana came to a standstill on Saturday as the state-wide bandh called by the Backward Classes Joint Action Committee (BC JAC) received an overwhelming response. The bandh, supported by nearly all major political parties, was organized to demand 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies.

Public transport, particularly buses operated by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC), remained off the roads. Protesters from BC associations and political parties staged demonstrations outside bus depots, forcing the suspension of services across the state. The halt in bus operations caused severe inconvenience to commuters in Hyderabad and other districts, especially ahead of the Diwali festival.

Shops, business establishments, and private educational institutions remained closed, while many government schools and colleges also declared a holiday. Government offices functioned normally, though employees belonging to BC communities attended duties wearing black badges in solidarity with the cause.

The bandh was called by the BC JAC, a collective of 136 associations representing various backward communities, under the leadership of Rajya Sabha MP R. Krishnaiah, who emphasized that the shutdown was non-political and aimed purely at securing justice for BCs. “We have appealed to all sections of society, including caste-based groups and political parties, to support this cause,” Krishnaiah said.

In an unusual display of unity, the bandh saw participation from leaders of the ruling Congress, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Ministers and MLAs joined protests in several parts of the state.

The usually bustling Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) in Hyderabad wore a deserted look, as passengers were left stranded without transportation options. BC JAC leaders staged symbolic protests at both locations, singing songs and playing traditional games to draw attention to their demands.

BJP MP Eatala Rajender joined the protests near JBS, while Minister for Endowments and Forests Konda Surekha participated in demonstrations at the Rathifiel Bus Stop in Secunderabad. Surekha alleged that despite the Telangana Assembly passing a Bill ensuring BC reservations, the Governor has withheld approval. She accused the BJP of “not being serious about BC welfare” and of “doing injustice to the community by filing legal cases” against the policy.

Telangana Jagruthi leader K. Kavitha, who led protests at the Khairatabad junction in central Hyderabad, remarked that it was ironic that political parties responsible for ensuring reservations were now taking to the streets in support of the bandh.

To maintain law and order, Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy ordered heightened security measures across Telangana. He warned that strict action would be taken against anyone involved in violence or vandalism during the shutdown.

The bandh comes in the backdrop of recent legal developments. On October 9, the Telangana High Court issued an interim stay on a government order providing 42 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies. The Supreme Court subsequently refused to entertain the state government’s Special Leave Petition (SLP), stating that it would not intervene in a case already being heard by the High Court.

With both the legal and political battle over BC reservation intensifying, Saturday’s near-total shutdown underscores the growing public pressure on the state government to ensure representation and justice for Telangana’s backward communities.