YSRCP, Left parties blast government’s ‘wrong approach’ on BC reservation issue
Former minister Dharmana Prasada Rao says the YSRCP warned the state government that the impugned GOs could face legal hurdles.
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The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), CPI and CPI(M) criticized the state government after the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down GO 105 and 1065, which provided 34% reservation for BCs in rural local bodies and 33.33% in urban local bodies.
YSRCP leaders and former ministers Dharmana Prasada Rao and Chelluboyina Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna said the verdict exposed what they described as the government’s political approach to BC reservations. The court also ordered that the local body election process be started within six weeks.
Mr. Prasada Rao said the YSRCP had warned that government orders may face legal hurdles as the aggregate vertical reservation for SCs, STs and BCs usually cannot exceed the 50% ceiling. He called on the government to demonstrate its commitment to BC’s political representation in the upcoming municipal elections.
Mr. Venugopala Krishna questioned why the state government did not follow the constitutional route to protect reservation beyond the existing ceiling, citing the Tamil Nadu Ninth Plan model. He also demanded an apology from BC.
Leaders claimed that the previous YSRCP government had expanded BC’s representation in political positions, citing nine out of 13 posts of Mayor, six out of 13 posts of Zilla Parishad Chairman and representation in Parliament and Legislative Council. They demanded that the ruling coalition provide at least 34% BC representation in political opportunities and seats.
CPI State Secretary G. Eswaraiah demanded 42% reservation for BC and urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to seek a constitutional and legal framework from the Centre. He also opposed the holding of local body elections until a special intensive revision of the electoral rolls was completed and the final rolls were published.
CPI(M) state secretary V. Srinivasa Rao urged the Center to amend the constitution to remove the 50% ceiling. He argued that the government announced the 34% reservation despite being aware of the legal restrictions and asked why the ruling parties did not seek to amend the constitution.
Published – 01 Oct 2026 21:12 IST