Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday mounted a strong political defence of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s decision to provide 34 per cent reservation to Backward Classes (BCs) in rural local bodies, presenting it as a historic step towards giving BC communities a greater share in political decision-making and accusing the previous YSR Congress government of betraying their interests.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Naidu said the 34 per cent reservation was not merely an electoral promise but a reflection of the NDA government’s commitment to social justice.
He said the decision would “go down in history” and warned that if the YSRCP moved courts against the measure, as he expected it to do, it would be remembered for opposing BC political representation.
Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of reducing the BC quota from 34 per cent to 24.15 per cent through G.O. Nos. 559 and 560, saying the move caused injustice to 16,800 BC leaders.
He also alleged that the previous government issued G.O. No. 176 on BC reservations but, after the High Court struck it down, failed to appeal the matter in the Supreme Court.
He contrasted this with the TDP’s record on BC reservations, recalling that NTR introduced BC reservations in local bodies in 1986, while his government increased the quota to 34 per cent in 1995.
The 34 per cent quota was subsequently implemented in local-body elections held in 1995, 2001, 2006 and 2013, he said.
Naidu said BC communities, which account for 50.54 per cent of the state’s population, had sustained agriculture, traditional occupations, small businesses and the service sector, and deserved representation at every level of governance.
He announced a five-point agenda for BC empowerment covering education, skill development, employment, entrepreneurship and political representation. BC residential schools would be transformed into centres of excellence, while traditional skills would be combined with technology and modern markets.
Naidu said 93 of the 119 Jyotirao Phule BC residential schools were established during TDP rule. He also cited representation given to communities such as Vadderas, including an MLC opportunity and allocation of 10 per cent of mining leases, along with subsidies on lease payments.
The Chief Minister said conducting local-body elections was essential to secure Rs 2,300 crore in rural and Rs 1,562 crore in urban Finance Commission grants.
The government has decided to provide 34 per cent BC reservation in rural local bodies and 33⅓ per cent in urban local bodies. It has also opted for direct elections to mayors and municipal chairpersons, which Naidu said would promote stable governance and curb the “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” culture.
Calling for unity among NDA partners in the forthcoming local-body elections, Naidu said BC reservations were “not against anyone” but were intended to secure social justice within the constitutional framework.
He urged the Assembly to approve the 34 per cent reservation and said the government would stand with BCs until they received justice under law, the Constitution and principles of fairness.
