Andhra CM Naidu vows 34 per-cent of NDA local poll tickets for BC candidates

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the NDA would allocate at least 34 per cent of its tickets to BC candidates in local body elections. His announcement followed the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the state’s challenge to the High Court ruling

Amaravati: The NDA in Andhra Pradesh will allocate 34 per cent of its tickets to candidates from the Backward Classes (BCs) in the upcoming local body elections, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Friday, after the Supreme Court dismissed the state government’s plea challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruling that struck down the 34 per cent reservation for BCs in local body polls.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president said the ruling alliance would field more than 34 per cent BC candidates.

---

He was speaking at a public meeting after distributing pattadar passbooks to farmers at Narsingolu in Prakasam district.

On October 1, the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down two government orders providing 34 per cent reservation for BCs in local body elections, holding that the quota breached the 50 per cent ceiling on total reservations.

The High Court observed that the aggregate reservation for all categories in local bodies should not exceed 50 per cent, in line with Supreme Court guidelines.

Chief Minister Naidu had announced the enhanced quota on August 18, stating that BCs would get 34 per cent reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33 per cent in urban local bodies.

Claiming that BCs constitute more than 50 per cent of the population, Naidu said they had been the backbone of the TDP for 45 years.

“We implemented numerous changes to uplift them politically, economically, and socially. While NTR introduced 24 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies, I increased it to 34 per cent; however, the previous government reduced it back to 24 per cent,” he said.

Naidu alleged that when the coalition government tried to increase the reservation again, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) approached the courts and blocked the move.

“The ‘Axe Party’ holds an aversion towards BCs. Nevertheless, the NDA alliance will allocate 34 per cent of the seats to them,” he said.

Under the ‘Mee Bhumi-Mee Hakku’ programme, the Chief Minister distributed pattadar passbooks among farmers.

He said the government was distributing error-free pattadar passbooks and had so far issued 40.58 lakh. “In October alone, we gave passbooks with royal seal to over 4 lakh farmers in 790 villages,” he said.

Targeting the YSRCP, Naidu alleged that land security had been lacking under the previous government.

“Whether at home or outside, one has to live in fear. It created more problems than ever. A void was created in all systems. We are moving towards development by solving those problems with double engine sarkar,” he said.