Ponnam Prabhakar Urges Padmasalis to Aim for Five MLAs, Presses for Caste Census

Backward Classes Welfare and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Sunday urged the Padmasali community to strengthen its political presence, calling on it to work towards electing at least five MLAs in the next general elections. He was speaking at the 111th birth anniversary celebrations of Konda Laxman Bapuji, held at Ravindra Bharathi.

Mr. Prabhakar called for unity among weaker sections and paid tribute to Bapuji, describing him as a leader who put the aspirations of Telangana above political office and personal advancement. He said the veteran leader's decision to give up his position for the cause of Telangana, and his fight against social inequalities and exploitation including forced labour, offered a path for younger generations to follow.

Drawing on recent interactions with the Yadava and Mudiraj communities, the Minister said communities and their traditional occupations must adapt to changing times.

Turning to welfare measures, Mr. Prabhakar said the Telangana government had carried out a caste census and enacted legislation providing 42% reservation for Backward Classes. He alleged that the Centre had stalled the implementation of that reservation and said the demand for a nationwide caste census would continue.

He referred to the Centre's announcement on April 1, 2025, that caste enumeration would be taken up as part of the Census, and said BCs had not been included in the exercise, which collected data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He reiterated the call for comprehensive caste enumeration across the country.

Among those who attended the programme were Minister for Employment, Training and Factories G. Vivek Venkataswamy, government adviser V. Hanumantha Rao, Rajya Sabha member Anil Kumar Yadav and Handloom Corporation chairman Dudem Venkataramana.

The event was organised by the Telangana government under the leadership of Konda Laxman Bapuji Birth Anniversary Celebration Committee chairman and Telangana Padmasali Cooperative Corporation chairman Gudur Srinivas.