KTR Slams Congress Over BC Reservation Cut, Questions Rahul Gandhi on Rs 160 Crore Caste Census in Telangana

Hyderabad, Nov 2025 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) has strongly criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party for allegedly using the caste census in Telangana as a political showpiece while neglecting the rights and interests of Backward Classes (BCs). KTR condemned the state government for spending nearly Rs 160 crore on the BC caste census, asserting that it was conducted to reduce BC reservations rather than benefit the community.

The controversy comes in the wake of the Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) announcing Gram Panchayat elections scheduled in three phases next month, where the BC reservation has been set at 17.08 percent. KTR highlighted that Congress had originally promised 42 percent reservation for BCs in local body elections, but the actual reservation was drastically reduced from 24 percent to 17 percent, a move he termed as “stabbing the poor in the back.”

KTR took to social media platform X to demand answers from Rahul Gandhi, questioning both the financial waste and the erosion of grassroots representation for backward communities. He wrote, “Hello Rahul Gandhi Ji, You spoke eloquently about Telangana caste census and claimed it as a role model for other states. Congress Govt spent Rs 160 crore with a promise of 42 percent reservation for the BC community. Delivered 17 percent to the BC community (reduced from 24 percent) in the just announced Panchayat elections!!! Any chance you could share the wisdom on wasting huge money of the exchequer in this futile exercise?”

The SEC notification issued Tuesday outlines elections for 12,728 posts of sarpanchs and 1,12,242 ward members across 12,735 Gram Panchayats, with 1.66 crore rural voters eligible to cast their ballots. Among Telangana’s 31 districts, Siddipet has the highest BC reservation at 26.772 percent, while Bhadradri Kothagudem has no BC-reserved Gram Panchayats.

The dispute over BC reservation dates back to the government’s original order providing 42 percent reservation in local bodies, including Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs). The High Court subsequently set aside this order, leading to the suspension of earlier election notifications.

On November 17, the Telangana Cabinet decided to proceed only with Gram Panchayat elections in December, citing the impending lapse of a Rs 3,000 crore grant from the Centre by March 31, 2026. Decisions regarding MPTCs, ZPTCs, and municipal corporations will await the High Court’s final ruling on the 42 percent BC reservation. The interim order mandates that local body elections adhere to a 50 percent cap on total reservations across all categories.

KTR has made it clear that Congress must justify both the reduction in BC reservations and the Rs 160 crore expenditure on the caste census. The BRS leader accused the party of reneging on its promises and undermining backward communities, calling for accountability before the elections proceed.