Daijiworld Media Network - Amaravati
Amaravati, Oct 9: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would allocate 34 per cent of tickets to Backward Classes (BCs) in the upcoming local body elections, despite the Supreme Court dismissing the state government's plea challenging a High Court order that struck down the enhanced reservation quota.
Naidu said the ruling alliance would field more than 34 per cent BC candidates in the elections.
He was addressing a public meeting after distributing pattadar passbooks to farmers at Narsingolu in Prakasam district.
On October 1, the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down two government orders providing 34 per cent reservation for BCs in local body elections, holding that the quota violated the 50 per cent ceiling on total reservations.
The High Court observed that the aggregate reservation for all categories in local bodies should not exceed 50 per cent, in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines. The state government subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's ruling, but its plea was dismissed.
Naidu had announced the enhanced quota on August 18, stating that BCs would receive 34 per cent reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33 per cent in urban local bodies.
Claiming that BCs constitute more than 50 per cent of the state's population, the Chief Minister said the community had been the backbone and a source of support for the TDP for the past 45 years.
“We implemented numerous changes to uplift them politically, economically and socially. While NTR introduced 24 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies, I increased it to 34 per cent; however, the previous government reduced it back to 24 per cent,” he said.
Naidu alleged that when the coalition government attempted to restore the enhanced reservation, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) approached the courts and blocked the move.
“The 'Axe Party' holds an aversion towards BCs. Nevertheless, the NDA alliance will allocate 34 per cent of the seats to them,” he said.
Under the ‘Mee Bhumi-Mee Hakku’ programme, Naidu also distributed pattadar passbooks among farmers and said the government was issuing error-free land ownership documents.
The state has so far distributed 40.58 lakh passbooks, he said, adding that in October alone, passbooks bearing the royal seal had been issued to more than four lakh farmers across 790 villages.
Targeting the previous YSRCP government, Naidu alleged that people had faced insecurity over their land during its tenure.
“Whether at home or outside, one has to live in fear. It created more problems than ever. A void was created in all systems. We are moving towards development by solving those problems with double engine sarkar,” he said.