Naidu Promises Over 34% Party Tickets to BCs In Local Polls

He asserted that the Telugu Desam would continue to support their political, social and economic advancement despite the legal hurdles to implementing the reservations for them.
Speaking at a ‘Mee Bhoomi, Mee Hakku’ meeting at Narsingolu in Jarugumalli mandal of Prakasam district, he said BCs had been the backbone of the TD for 45 years and supporting them was his responsibility.

Naidu said former chief minister NT Rama Rao had introduced 24 per cent reservations for BCs in local bodies, which he later increased to 34 per cent. However, the previous YSR Congress government reduced the quota to 24 per cent, depriving 16,800 people of opportunities to assume leadership positions in local elections, he alleged.

The CM accused the YSRC of approaching the courts to block the increase by citing the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations. Naidu noted that his government had appointed a commission and obtained a report to pursue higher reservations.

“Though the court struck down the government order relating to the reservations, we will stand by BCs and ensure their representation through the party. I assure you that we will give more than 34 per cent of party tickets to BCs in local body elections," he said.

The chief minister also said public welfare was his government's priority. He urged the people to assess its performance and share their views on welfare schemes and public services. The government, he said, was collecting feedback from people over the phone and making changes wherever necessary.

The performance of government employees and officials was also being monitored to improve transparency and service delivery, he added.

Ministers Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Nimmala Ramanaidu and Anagani Satya Prasad attended the meeting.