In a populist move, the newly ascended K. Chandrasekhara Rao-led Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) Govt. in Telangana has promulgated an ordinance capping quota to a maximum of 50% for SC/STs and Backward Classes (BCs) for the upcoming Panchayat elections in the State.

As already reported, Rao led TRS to an emphatic and almost unbelievable victory at the recent Assembly polls as TRS managed to win 88 out of the 119 seats at stake, thus winning almost 75% of the seats.

The gazette notification means that BCs, who form major portion of the State’s voters at 54%, would now have to feel satisfied with a mere 23.81% (or less than that) of the seats at stake as the 26.19% quota for SC/ST candidates can only be altered or tampered with by amending the Indian Constitution.

As per an earlier ruling by the Supreme Court, the over-all reservation quota including that of SC/STs, BCs and others shouldn’t exceed 50%. Observers point out that the Govt. may consider movign the apex Court in getting permission to keep reservation for BCs at Panchayat polls at 34%.