The Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh has faced a setback in the High Court over reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections. The Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down Government Orders (GOs) 105 and 1065 issued by the coalition government, which provided for 34 per cent reservations for BCs in local body elections.
The latest development has once again brought the political debate over BC reservations to the forefront. The issue has raised questions among BC communities over the promise made before the elections, the decisions taken after the TDP came to power, and the latest court intervention.
YSRCP Government’s Earlier 34% BC Reservation Move
After the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power, it issued GO 176 providing 34 per cent reservations for BCs in local body elections.
However, the reservation structure was challenged in court as the combined reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and BCs exceeded the 50 per cent ceiling.
The High Court, while hearing a petition filed by TDP leader Birru Prathap Reddy opposing the 34 per cent BC reservations, along with other petitions, struck down GO 176 in 2020.
YSRCP Claims Greater Political Representation for BCs
Although the court ruling prevented the implementation of 34 per cent reservations, the YSRCP maintains that its government ensured substantial political representation for BC communities through other measures.
According to the party, BC leaders were given significant representation in key local government positions, including Zilla Parishad chairpersons, mayors, municipal chairpersons and Mandal Parishad presidents (MPPs).
The YSRCP claims that:
- 6 out of 13 Zilla Parishad chairperson posts were given to BCs.
- 9 out of 13 mayoral posts went to BC leaders.
- 44 out of 84 municipal chairperson posts were allotted to BCs.
- 239 out of 636 MPP posts were given to BC representatives.
The party says these appointments were intended to ensure political representation for BC communities despite the court’s decision on reservation quotas.
BC Representation in Jagan Cabinet
The YSRCP also highlights BC representation in the state cabinet during the Jagan government.
The party claims that 11 of the 25 ministers belonged to BC communities. It also points to the appointment of Budi Mutyala Naidu and Dharmana Krishnadas as Deputy Chief Ministers.
The party further notes that Tammineni Sitaram was appointed Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
YSRCP Accuses TDP of Politicising BC Reservations
The YSRCP alleges that the TDP, which was in opposition at the time, strongly criticised the Jagan government over BC reservations and promised to restore the 34 per cent quota if it came to power.
According to the YSRCP, the TDP made the issue a major political promise during the 2024 Assembly elections, assuring BC communities that it would ensure justice and restore the 34 per cent reservation.
The YSRCP now argues that the TDP’s actions after coming to power have been different from its electoral promises.
Questions Over TDP Government’s GOs
The YSRCP has questioned why the coalition government issued fresh GOs for 34 per cent BC reservations despite the earlier court ruling and the legal limitations surrounding the reservation structure.
The opposition party argues that if the government was aware of the legal hurdles that had resulted in the earlier cancellation of the reservation policy, it should have first worked towards a legally sustainable solution.
The YSRCP has also questioned why the TDP, as a key partner in the Union government, did not pursue discussions with the Centre and seek constitutional or legislative measures to address the issue.
YSRCP Seeks Permanent Legal Solution
The YSRCP argues that merely issuing government orders cannot provide a permanent solution to the BC reservation issue if those orders are vulnerable to legal challenges.
The party has demanded that the state government instead put pressure on the Centre to find a legally sustainable and permanent mechanism for providing 34 per cent reservations to BCs.
The YSRCP has described the repeated issuance of GOs without addressing the underlying legal hurdles as a political exercise and has questioned the government’s commitment to implementing the reservation promise.
BC Reservation Politics Back in Focus
The latest High Court ruling has once again brought the political debate over BC reservations in Andhra Pradesh into focus.
The YSRCP is questioning the sequence of events the 34 per cent reservation promise before the 2024 elections, the issuance of GOs after the TDP-led coalition came to power, and the subsequent High Court intervention.
The party is demanding that the government explain why it proceeded with the reservation orders despite the earlier legal challenges and take steps towards a solution that can withstand judicial scrutiny.
