VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet will meet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat on Saturday. The Cabinet is expected to take a decision on reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections.
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the AP government’s petition seeking to provide 34% reservation for BCs in local body elections, upholding the High Court’s verdict in the matter.
Against this backdrop, the Cabinet is likely to discuss the steps to be taken in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling while honouring the government’s commitment to people of the State.
The meeting is also expected to deliberate on ways to ensure justice for all sections of society while keeping the total reservation within the 50% ceiling, sources said.
Responding to the Supreme Court’s refusal to entertain the AP’s plea on 34% BC reservation, the Chief Minister said the TDP would continue to support BCs, and ensure their representation through the party. Terming BCs the backbone of the TDP, he said the party has consistently worked for their social, economic and political advancement.
No going back on BC, will allot more than 34% of TDP tickets in local polls: Naidu
Naidu said, ‘‘The TDP will allocate more than 34% of its party tickets to BCs, and work to ensure their victory, and there will be no compromise on political empowerment of Backward Classes.”
Addressing the Mee Bhoomi-Mee Hakku programme at Narsingolu village in Jarugumalli mandal of Prakasam district, Naidu said he had promised during the election campaign to deliver justice to BCs and increase reservation. The NDA government had subsequently increased reservation for BCs in accordance with the law, but the move faced legal challenges, he said.
Naidu alleged that the opposition had approached the court to obstruct the proposed reservation, raising objections that the total quota would exceed the 50% ceiling. He said the government had presented its arguments effectively, but the High Court had relied on a Supreme Court order restricting total reservation to 50%.
He also pointed out that the government had constituted a commission, and obtained its report to support the reservation initiative, while alleging that the previous YSRCP regime had failed to appoint such a commission.
Naidu accused the YSRCP of opposing the political advancement of BCs, and alleged that the opposition’s actions were aimed at preventing backward communities from receiving political reservation and improving their socio-economic conditions.
He claimed that the opposition feared that the empowerment of BCs would strengthen the TDP politically.
Emphasising his personal commitment to BC welfare, Naidu said he felt indebted to the backward communities, and wanted to repay that debt by ensuring justice for them. He remarked that when governments fulfil their promises to people who supported them in elections, it also helps ensure fairness and justice for others.
Referring to the last elections, he said the TDP-led NDA had secured approximately 55.4% of votes, while nearly 94% of its candidates had won, describing the result as an unprecedented achievement in the State’s electoral history.
He said Backward Class voters had played an important role in the victory, and had overwhelmingly supported the alliance.
Naidu added that he would never forget the support extended by BCs, recalling that whenever he visited villages, whether in opposition or in power, people identifying with the BC community frequently expressed their support for the TDP.
The Chief Minister said the coalition government in the State had made every effort to repay the community’s trust, but the issue had again reached the Supreme Court following another legal challenge. He accused the opposition of repeatedly attempting to prevent BCs from securing greater political representation.