All political parties in Telangana are echoing the BC mantra, as the BC community constitutes 60% of the state’s population. It all began with the BRS announcing the ‘BC Bandhu’ scheme a few months before the approaching elections. Recently, the BJP declared a BC Agenda, promising a BC candidate as their Chief Minister, while the Congress announced a BC declaration with several promises. With the three major political parties actively vying for the BC voters’ support in Telangana, it will be crucial to determine which party the BC community will believe in or support.
What is BRS doing for BCs
After Chief Minister KCR announced the Dalit Bandhu scheme in Telangana, demands were raised from the BC community for the BC Bandhu scheme. In June of this year, they announced BC Bandhu, providing Rs. 1 lakh in financial assistance to BC families engaged in artisanal work. The BRS government claims that this is a continuous process, similar to Dalit Bandhu, implemented in a phased manner. However, opposition parties criticize the BRS government, alleging that they introduced this scheme solely for the sake of the BC vote bank and assert that they have done nothing for BC artisans during their 9 and a half years in power. There are no statistics available to date regarding how many BC families have benefited from the BC Bandhu scheme. Opposition parties are demanding the release of a white paper on the BC Bandhu scheme’s implementation in the state.
Currently, the BRS government is implementing various initiatives, including sheep distribution to the Golla Kuruma community, providing 200 units of free power supply to saloons for the Mangali community, offering Rs. 3,000 as monthly aid to weavers under the Chenetha Mithra scheme, supplying free fish seedlings to the Gangaputra, Besta, and Mudiraj communities, providing a Rs. 5 lakh life cover to weaver families in case of the unfortunate demise of eligible beneficiaries, and distributing new handloom weavers worth Rs. 38,000 under the ‘Telangana Chenetha Maggam’ scheme.
Other common schemes, such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Kalyana Lakshmi, Amma Vodi, KCR Kit, KCR Nutrition Kit, Gruha Lakshmi scheme, and Arogya Lakshmi, also benefit BCs.
BJP’s priority to BC’s
BJP has announced its BC-focused agenda, offering the Chief Minister’s post to the BC community. Recently, during a public meeting at LB Stadium, Narendra Modi announced that they would nominate a BC candidate for the Chief Minister position once they come into power. There is speculation that the CM candidate might be BJP MLA Etela Rajender, who belongs to the Mudiraj community, one of the most populous castes within the BC community.
‘Under PM Modi’s leadership, a BC should become Telangana CM. Jana Sena will give complete support.
— BJYM (@BJYM) November 7, 2023
For Vision 2047 to be realised, “Aur ek baar Modi Ji”. He should become Prime Minister again.’
– Jana Sena Chief Shri @PawanKalyan pic.twitter.com/pzmPDEAGJp
The BJP is emphasising their commitment to giving priority to BCs in Telangana, where both the BRS and Congress seem to be neglecting them. In September of this year, the BJP launched the ‘PM Vishwakarma’ scheme. Under this scheme, the Central Government provides financial assistance to traditional artisans within the BC community. They can receive Rs. 1 lakh in loan assistance in the first year, with beneficiaries required to repay it to the government within 18 months. In the second phase, the government will provide Rs. 2 lakh in loan assistance, and beneficiaries should repay it within 30 months. The government will collect 5 percent interest on this loan assistance. Under this scheme, the government will spend Rs. 13,000 crore per year.
Congress BC Declaration
- Increase BC reservations based on caste census and BC commission report.
- Increase BC reservations from 23% to 42% in local bodies.
- Allocate Rs. 20,000 crores for BC welfare budget per year, with a target to reach Rs. 1 lakh crores in 5 years.
- Establish corporations for all BC communities.
- Set up one new Gurukulam in every mandal and one new degree college in each district for BCs.
- Construct a shopping complex named ‘Vruthi Bazars’ with 50 shops in each mandal.
- Include Mudiraj, Mutrasi, Tenugollu communities in BC-A category, moving them from BC-D.
- Allocate 5 acres of land in each village for the plantation of Palm trees, with a 90% subsidy for palm tree saplings.
- Increase reservations for Gouds in liquor shop licenses from the existing 15% to 25%.
- Provide a 90% subsidy on powerlooms and accessories for Padmashalis.
- Offer Rs. 10 lakh to Rajaka youth in cities to establish laundromats.
#Telangana #Congress comes up BC Declaration
— Aneri Shah (@tweet_aneri) November 10, 2023
• BC reservations will be increased based on caste census and BC commission report within 6 months of assuming power#TelanganaAssemblyElections2023 #Election2023 pic.twitter.com/1YsfuqGEAl
Party-wise ticket allocation to BCs
The BRS party has allocated 24 seats to BC candidates, including 9 candidates from the Munuru Kapu community, 4 from the Goud community, 5 from the Yadava community, 1 from the Padmashali community, and 5 to candidates from other BC castes.
The Congress party failed to fulfill its promise of allocating 2 seats for BC candidates in each Lok Sabha segment and ended up providing seats to only 23 candidates. This included 5 for Munuru Kapu, 4 for Goud, 2 for Yadav, 2 for Kuruma, and 7 for candidates from other BC castes.
The BJP has provided more tickets to BC candidates compared to the BRS and Congress. The party has allocated 36 tickets to BC candidates, with 9 going to Mudiraj, 7 to Munuru Kapu, 5 to Yadav, 2 to Perika, and 8 to candidates from other BC communities.
For which party will BCs support?
Currently in Telangana, three main political parties are predominantly led by individuals from the Velama and Reddy communities. The ruling BRS is under the leadership of KCR, who belongs to the Velama community, while the Congress is led by Revanth Reddy, and the BJP is led by Kishan Reddy, both of whom are from the Reddy community. In BRS, it is nearly impossible for anyone other than a leader from the KCR family to secure the Chief Minister’s seat. During the Telangana movement, KCR had promised that a Dalit would be the first Chief Minister of Telangana, but KCR did not keep his promise.
The Congress is predominantly influenced by Reddy leaders, with several Reddy leaders currently competing for the Chief Minister’s position, alongside Bhatti Vikramarka from the Dalit community. The BJP is the only party openly declaring a Backward Class (BC) candidate for the Chief Minister position. Additionally, the Bahujan Samaj Party is striving to establish itself in mainstream politics in Telangana, led by retired IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar, who has allocated a significant number of tickets to BC candidates. Considering the manifestos and priorities of these political parties regarding BC communities, the stance of BC voters will be pivotal in determining which party they choose to support in the elections and who ultimately comes to power.
