Andhra govt's reservation for BCs in local bodies 'eyewash': Cong

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Congress leader Kolanukonda Sivaji on Wednesday termed the TDP-led NDA government offering a 34 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies elections as an "eyewash." He questioned whether just two months' time would be enough for the government to complete the entire process required to implement the enhanced reservation, including caste survey and the report of a dedicated commission.

On August 18, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu informed the Assembly that the state Cabinet had taken the decision to extend 34 per cent reservation in Rural Local Bodies (RLB) and 33.3 per cent in Urban Local Bodies (ULB) for BCs.

Sivaji alleged that the coalition government had failed to initiate this process a year ago, despite knowing that a lengthy process was involved. He also asked if time would be sufficient to table an amendment bill, pass an ordinance removing the ceiling, get governor's recommendation, Presidential assent, and clearances from the High Court and the Supreme Court. He criticized the ruling TDP for celebrating this decision as doing a big favour to the BCs and creating an impression that it had done something "significant" for the community.

Though there are 138 BC communities, Sivaji claimed that the benefits were reaching only three communities, demanding that BCs be categorised based on their population. In the southern state, he said BCs have 25 per cent reservation in education and employment, partitioned in the proportion of seven per cent each for BC-A and BC-D communities, followed by BC-B (10 per cent) and BC-C (one per cent).