A.P. special Cabinet meet on Oct. 10 to discuss BC quota setback in Supreme Court

The Andhra Pradesh government is holding a special Cabinet meeting on Saturday, October 10, following the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the High Court order on reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections, dealing a setback to the State’s efforts to provide 34% quota.

The special meeting will be held at 11 a.m. in the Cabinet Meeting Hall on the first floor of Building No. 1 at the A.P. Secretariat in Velagapudi, Guntur district. Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad has instructed all Special Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries to submit proposals, if any, in accordance with the Government Business Rules and Secretariat instructions.

The meeting assumes significance as the government considers the implications of the court orders for its proposed BC reservations in local body elections.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, addressing a public meeting at Kondapi in Prakasam district on Friday, said the NDA government had made efforts to ensure 34% reservations for BCs. He asserted that the coalition would provide 34% of local body seats to BC candidates through its party nominations.

Mr. Naidu recalled that N.T. Rama Rao had introduced 24% reservations for BCs in local bodies and said he had subsequently increased the quota to 34%. He alleged that the previous YSRCP government reduced it to 24% and accused the party of legally challenging the enhanced quota.

The special Cabinet meeting is expected to deliberate on the implications of the judicial orders and the government’s position on BC representation in local body elections.