Telangana bandh affects transport services, protestors demand enhanced BC reservations

Telangana-wide bandh, which began early on Saturday (October 18, 2025) morning, affected transport services in several districts including Mahabubnagar, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Khammam, Kothagudem, Sangareddy, Medak, Nalgonda, and Adilabad. Roads wore a deserted look as most shops remained closed, except those providing essential goods and services. Educational institutions and business establishments declared a holiday as a precautionary measure.

Political parties and their cadre joined the Statewide bandh protesting the Telangana High Court’s interim stay on the 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BC) in local body elections.

Protesters held sit-ins, rallies, and human chains across the State demanding that the Government secure legal backing for the enhanced BC reservations in local bodies. Leaders from multiple parties declared that the agitation would continue until justice was achieved for the backward classes.

Congress leaders led large-scale protests across the State. Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao spearheaded demonstrations in Sattupalli, while MLC Venkat Balmoor participated in Nizamabad. Minister Konda Surekha also joined the protests.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud reviewed the situation with DCC presidents and urged party workers to maintain peace before joining protestors at Golnaka in Hyderabad.

Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Vakati Srihari, along with SAT Chairman Shivsena Reddy, joined the agitation at RTC X Roads, a key protest site where BRS leaders and MLAs Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Gangula Kamalakar also staged demonstrations. Telangana Jagruthi president and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha led a human chain at Khairatabad to express solidarity with the cause.