TDP leaders accuse former govt. for neglecting BCs

B.C Leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Wednesday accused the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government of neglecting the Backward Classes (BCs) and favouring a particular community. They called upon BCs to unite and work for the defeat of the YSRCP in the next elections.

Addressing a ‘Jayaho BC’ programme at Narsipatnam in Anakapalli district, AP Assembly Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu said the TDP government had taken several measures to empower BCs, including increasing reservations in local bodies to 34%.

Mr. Patrudu recalled that before the entry of N.T. Rama Rao into politics, other communities had dominated political power in the Visakhapatnam region.

He said that when Mr. Rama Rao asked him to contest the Assembly elections in 1983, he expressed apprehension as the other contestants were senior and influential, while he lacked financial resources. His family members had also questioned the need for him to contest, he recalled.

However, with the encouragement of Mr. Rama Rao and the support of the people, he won the election, Mr. Patrudu said. It was Mr. Rama Rao who identified and encouraged BC leaders and gave them opportunities in politics across the state, he added.

Mr. Patrudu said there were 137 communities among the BCs and claimed that they constituted nearly 57% of the electorate. He said the increase in reservation from 24% to 34% would provide greater political representation to BCs.

He explained that the number of BC sarpanch posts would increase from around 13,350 under 24% reservation to between 32,000 and 45,000 under 34% reservation. Similarly, the number of BC mandal presidents would increase from 158 to 224, while the number of BC MPTC members would rise from 2,411 to 3,416. The number of BC Zilla Parishad chairperson posts would also increase from seven to 34, he said. The increased representation would also lead to higher budget allocations and greater welfare opportunities for BCs, Mr. Patrudu added.

Challenging YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to come to the Assembly and speak on the issues, Mr. Patrudu said the NDA MLAs and Ministers were ready to respond. “If they do not speak, I will make them speak,” he said.

He also criticised the YSRCP for approaching courts against the recruitment of teachers through the District Selection Committee (DSC) by the NDA government. The recruitment was intended to fulfil the aspirations of unemployed youth, he said.