Hyderabad: BJP-T has demanded the TRS government to implement 34 per cent reservation for backward classes (BCs) in the forthcoming ZPTC and MPTC elections in Telangana, while stressing the need for direct election Zilla Parishad chairman and Mandal Parishad president.

“Telangana unit of BJP is demanding the TRS government to restore 34 per cent BC reservation in Zilla Parishad and Mandal elections.

BJP Telangana unit president Dr K Laxman along with other senior leaders has submitted a memorandum to the Governor ESL Narasimhan and requested him to ensure 34 per cent BC reservation in the Zilla parishad and mandal elections. The BJP has further asked the Governor to direct State Election Commission (SEC) to hold election after the Lok Sabha election results so that political parties can focus on the local body elections.

The SEC has already finalized the schedule for ZPTC and MPTC elections for 32 Zilla Parishads, 535 ZPTCs, 535 MPPs and 5,857 MPTCs in three phases on May 6, 10 and 14 in Telangana.

The TRS government has slashed BC quote in local body reservations from 34 per cent to 22 per cent. This cut in reservation would trim the number of Sarpanch posts by 1,400 and 18,000 ward member positions for BCs, who are estimated to be about two crore in Telangana population.