HYDERABAD — The Congress party is gearing up for a major push on OBC rights, announcing a 100-day campaign across Telangana that aims to amplify demands for a nationwide caste census and the removal of the 50% ceiling on reservations. Koppula Raju, a Congress Working Committee invitee, revealed the plan on Saturday, framing it as the next evolution of a movement sparked during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Key facts:

  • Campaign duration: 100 days
  • Key demands: Nationwide caste census, removal of 50% reservation cap
  • Telangana identified 134 OBC communities in its survey

From Slogan to Movement

What began as a rallying cry during Rahul Gandhi’s cross-country march has now matured into a structured political effort. Raju, speaking at Gandhi Bhavan alongside Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, emphasized that Telangana has set a benchmark. Under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the state conducted what he called a “scientific caste survey,” making it a “role model” for others.

Contrasting Approaches

Raju didn’t hold back in critiquing the central government’s stance. He pointed out that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had publicly promised an OBC caste census alongside the population census, the actual forms distributed contained no provision for OBC enumeration. Similarly, he noted, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s parliamentary assurances haven’t translated into action.

“A proper OBC enumeration was conducted in Telangana,” Raju stated, underscoring the state’s consultation with OBC caste associations and the identification of 134 distinct communities.

A Nationwide Ambition

The 100-day campaign isn’t just about Telangana—it’s a testing ground for a larger national movement. Raju stressed that the Congress, along with Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, has been pressing the Modi government for a caste census for five years. With this campaign, they hope to turn simmering demand into undeniable public pressure.