YSRCP Slams BC Quota GOs as Political Deception; Demands 34% Seats
YSRCP leaders call out the Chandrababu Naidu government after High Court strikes down BC reservation orders, demanding 34% seat allocation.
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has launched a scathing attack on the Chandrababu Naidu-led government, labeling the recent attempt to implement Backward Class (BC) reservations as a "political game" disguised as social justice. The controversy erupted following a High Court decision that struck down Government Orders (GOs) 105 and 1065, which had sought to provide significant reservation quotas for BCs in local body elections.
High Court Strikes Down Reservation Orders
The legal battle reached a turning point when the High Court set aside the orders that intended to provide 34 per cent BC reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33 per cent in urban bodies. Instead of the proposed quotas, the court has directed that the local-body election process must be initiated within a strict six-week timeframe.
Senior YSRCP leaders and former ministers, Dharmana Prasada Rao and Chelluboyina Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna, asserted that the party had foreseen this legal outcome. They noted that the YSRCP had warned the government from the very beginning that these GOs would face judicial hurdles, as total vertical reservations for SCs, STs, and BCs typically cannot exceed the 50 per cent constitutional ceiling.
A Challenge to the TDP Government
Dharmana Prasada Rao criticized the government for failing to provide a legally sustainable foundation for the 34 per cent reservation figure. In a direct challenge to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Dharmana demanded that the leader prove his commitment to social justice by ensuring actual political representation for BC communities in the upcoming local elections.
Adding to the pressure, Venugopala Krishna questioned the government's motives and legal strategy. He raised the following points:
- Demand for Apology: He called for an unconditional apology to the BC community for the legal setback.
- Lack of Constitutional Effort: He questioned why the TDP, a member of the NDA at the Centre, did not pursue constitutional safeguards—such as those seen in Tamil Nadu’s Ninth Schedule—to protect reservations exceeding the standard ceiling.
YSRCP Defends Past Record on BC Representation
While attacking the current administration, the YSRCP highlighted the record of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, claiming he had previously expanded BC political influence through actual representation rather than just statutory orders. According to a party press release, the YSRCP leadership had ensured substantial BC presence in various levels of governance, including:
- Mayoral Posts: 9 out of 13 positions.
- Zilla Parishad Chairpersons: 6 out of 13 positions.
- Legislative Representation: Nearly 48 per cent of MLC positions and significant representation in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha roles.
- Local Leadership: Substantial presence in municipal and Mandal-level leadership.
As the state prepares for local elections under the court's directive, the YSRCP has demanded that the ruling coalition move beyond "unstable announcements" and commit to allotting at least 34 per cent of actual political seats and opportunities to the BC community.