Andhra Pradesh: BC Quota Restored To 34% In Local Bodies, Ministers Hail ‘Historic’ Move
BC welfare minister S Savitha said Tuesday would remain an unforgettable day for BCs as the coalition government had fulfilled another electoral promise: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to restore 34 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in local body elections has been hailed by ministers as a “historic” step towards political empowerment of the community.
BC welfare minister S Savitha said Tuesday would remain an unforgettable day for BCs as the coalition government had fulfilled another electoral promise. She said 34 per cent reservation would be implemented in rural local bodies and 33.33 per cent in urban local bodies. The proposal has been approved by the cabinet and was being taken forward in the assembly.
Savitha said the move would provide BCs greater opportunities to occupy elected positions and participate in governance. She highlighted the government’s welfare measures, saying BC allocations had risen from ₹39,000 crore in the first budget to ₹47,000 crore in the second and ₹51,000 crore in the third.
She said 15.67 lakh BC beneficiaries received ₹15,588.64 crore under NTR Bharosa pensions between 2024 and 2026, while 10.46 lakh BC students received ₹1,360.61 crore under Thalliki Vandanam.
She also cited reservations and concessions for Vadderas, toddy tappers, weavers and fishermen, asserting that the coalition government was combining welfare with political empowerment.
Minister K Atchannaidu said the government had decided to conduct local body elections with the restored BC quota and announced that the elections would be held by October. He said the TDP had historically provided political representation to BCs.
Minister Kollu Ravindra alleged that the previous government had weakened BC leadership through cases and attacks and reduced local body reservations. He said the present government was now bringing a BC Protection Act.
Home minister Vangalapudi Anitha described the cabinet decision as a landmark in BC political empowerment.
BCs were not merely a vote bank but the “backbone” of the Telugu Desam and the 3-party alliance, she said, adding that grassroots party workers who had carried the flag during difficult times should now get opportunities to become sarpanches, MPTC members and other local representatives.
