ROLE IN TELANGANA'S BACKWARD CLASSES MOVEMENT
Telangana — carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 as a separate state — has been a crucible of OBC politics in South India. The state's population includes a large proportion of backward class communities spread across its 33 districts, engaged in agriculture, artisan trades, weaving, pottery, fishing, and a variety of traditional occupations. These communities have long demanded adequate political representation, economic development, and social recognition.
The National OBC Intellectual Forum, operating from its headquarters in Hyderabad, has played an active role in shaping the discourse around backward class issues in Telangana. It has engaged with the state's Backward Classes Welfare Department, the Telangana BC Commission, and elected representatives to advance the interests of OBC communities.
Demand for Political Reservation
One of the Forum's most prominent campaigns in Telangana has been the demand for reservation for OBCs in elected local bodies — panchayats, municipalities, and the state legislature. While OBCs have numerical strength, their representation in elected bodies has historically been disproportionately low. The Forum has organized rallies and submitted petitions demanding constitutional amendments to ensure political reservation for OBCs in panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies.
Addressing Sub-Categorization
Within Telangana's OBC community, significant internal disparities exist. Certain communities — such as the Yadavas, Kapus, and Mudiraj — are relatively more organized and politically powerful, while hundreds of other smaller OBC castes remain extremely backward and struggle to access reservation benefits. The Forum has been a consistent advocate for the sub-categorization of the OBC quota within Telangana, ensuring that the most marginalized communities receive a dedicated share of reservation benefits. This demand is in line with the Rohini Commission's national recommendations on OBC sub-categorization.
Inclusion of Uncovered Communities
The Forum has taken up the cause of approximately 40 backward class communities in Telangana that are recognized in the state's BC list but have not yet been included in the Central List of OBCs, thereby depriving them of reservation benefits in central government jobs and central educational institutions. Through representations to the National Commission for Backward Classes and the Ministry of Social Justice, the Forum has persistently pushed for these communities' inclusion.