Bandh grips Telangana as parties unite over 42% BC quota; protests intensify after Supreme Court refusal

Supported by major political parties, a bandh was called in the state by Backward Classes (BC) organisations.

As a result of the call, businesses, educational institutions, and public transport were shut down across Telangana.

After the Supreme Court declined to intervene in the High Court’s decision, the BC organisations decided to intensify the protest.

The Backward Classes Joint Action Committee (BC JAC), was supported by the ruling Congress party, opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reported India Today.

The protests also witnessed the participation of state ministers.

The agitation turned violent after a few BC organisation workers attacked and vandalised a petrol pump and shops in the locality, according to the report.

Commuters were left stranded at bus stands and junctions across the state as Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses remained out of the roads in response to the appeals from political leaders and unions.

Several people, travelling for Diwali, faced difficulty in reaching their destination.

Organisers urged all sectors, apart from the essential services, to make the bandh successful in order to press for the restoration of BC reservations.

The protest was triggered following the Telangana High Court’s interim order on October 9 to stay the government’s order for 42% BC reservation in local body elections.

The agitation was intensified after the Supreme Court refused to intervene.

Several Congress ministers — including Ponnam Prabhakar, Vakiti Srihari, Seethakka, Konda Surekha and MP Anil Yadav — joined protests in Hyderabad in support of 42% reservation for BCs, while Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao participated in Sattupalli. BRS leaders, former ministers, and BJP’s Etala Rajender also joined separate rallies across Telangana, according to the India Today report.

Congress leaders said people “peacefully and voluntarily observed the bandh,” reaffirming their party’s commitment to the BC reservation cause. TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud highlighted the unity among political and civil society groups, the report said.

Telangana Jagruthi founder Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who backed the bandh, accused both Congress and BJP of misleading BCs and led a human chain protest at Khairatabad Junction along with Jagruthi and UPF leaders.

Minister Vakiti Srihari said the Congress government “was committed, is committed, and will remain committed” to 42% reservation for BCs, urging PM Modi to act.

Minister Danasari Seethakka said the bandh reflected a united demand by BCs across Telangana and pressed the Centre to approve the reservation, according to the report.