Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy declared the 2029 Lok Sabha elections a “litmus test” for OBC reservation, urging the Centre to adopt Telangana’s model of a 42% quota based on a comprehensive caste survey conducted from February 4, 2024, to February 4, 2025. Addressing the media in Delhi, Reddy emphasized the survey’s role in enabling social justice, with data revealing Backward Classes (BCs) constitute 56.4% of Telangana’s 3.55 crore population, alongside 17.45% Scheduled Castes (SCs), 10.08% Scheduled Tribes (STs), and 10.09% upper castes.

Reddy met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the Socio-Economic, Education, Employment, Political, and Caste (SEEEPC) survey, which underpinned two state bills passed in March 2025 to raise BC reservations to 42% in education, employment, and local bodies. These bills, sent to the Centre for inclusion in the Constitution’s 9th Schedule, await approval, facing delays Reddy attributes to the BJP’s reluctance. He challenged the BJP to remove Muslim reservations in states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, accusing them of using it as a distraction from OBC issues.

The Chief Minister hailed Telangana as a “torchbearer” for nationwide caste enumeration, noting the Centre’s recent inclusion of caste in the census as a response to Telangana’s initiative. He plans to rally multi-party support in Parliament’s Monsoon session, having previously staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar. Reddy warned that failure to implement OBC reservations could spark agitation, with BC leaders demanding action ahead of local body polls. The survey’s findings, vetted by an Independent Expert Working Group, aim to reshape policies for equitable representation, with February 4 now celebrated as Social Justice Day in Telangana.

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