Tadepalli (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 1 (IANS) YSR Congress Party’s senior leaders and former ministers Dharmana Prasada Rao and Chelluboyina Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna said the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s decision striking down government orders on BC reservations had exposed the Chandrababu Naidu regime’s political game in the name of social justice.
The High Court set aside the orders providing 34 per cent BC reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33 per cent in urban bodies, while directing that the local-body election process be initiated within six weeks.
Dharmana said that the YSRCP had warned from the day the GOs were issued that they would face legal hurdles because aggregate vertical reservations for SCs, STs, and BCs cannot ordinarily cross the 50 per cent ceiling. He said the government had failed to establish a legally sustainable basis for 34 per cent reservation and challenged Chandrababu Naidu to demonstrate his commitment by ensuring equivalent political representation for BCs in the coming local elections.
The High Court had earlier questioned the government on the data and legal basis used to arrive at the 34 per cent figure.
Venugopala Krishna demanded an unconditional apology to BCs and questioned why the TDP, despite being part of the NDA government at the Centre, had not pursued a constitutional route, including a proposal on the lines of Tamil Nadu’s Ninth Schedule protection, if it genuinely wanted reservation beyond the existing ceiling.
He said YSRCP President and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had compensated for judicial limits on statutory reservation by expanding political representation for BCs. They were given nine of 13 Mayor posts, six of 13 Zilla Parishad Chairperson posts, four Rajya Sabha positions, 11 of 25 Lok Sabha candidatures, nearly 48 per cent of MLC positions, and substantial representation in municipal and Mandal-level leadership.
With elections now approaching, leaders demanded that the coalition allot at least 34 per cent of its political opportunities and seats to BCs, rather than relying on announcements that fail judicial scrutiny.
–IANS
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