Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has promised that the NDA alliance will give at least 34% of its tickets to Backward Classes (BC) candidates in the upcoming local body elections.
He made the announcement on Friday, October 9, after the Supreme Court dismissed the state government’s challenge to an Andhra Pradesh High Court ruling that struck down the 34% reservation for BCs in local polls.
Speaking at a public meeting in Narsingolu, Prakasam district, Naidu said the NDA would field more than 34% BC candidates.
On October 1, the High Court ruled that the proposed quota crossed the 50% limit on total reservations. Naidu had announced the higher quota in August, proposing 34% reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33% in urban local bodies.
Naidu said BC communities make up more than half of Andhra Pradesh’s population and have supported the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for 45 years.
He also accused the previous YSRCP government of reducing the BC quota from 34% to 24%. The claims were part of his remarks at the meeting.
