Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Finalises Revised BC Quota for Local Body Polls
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved revised Backward Classes reservation for rural and urban local body elections based on the Rajiv Ranjan Commission report, following a Supreme Court setback to the earlier quota plan.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Saturday, October 10, finalised revised reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in rural and urban local body elections, based on the Rajiv Ranjan Commission report.
Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu announced the decision at a press conference in Amaravati, stating that the revised quotas aim to ensure social justice and adequate political representation for BC communities.
Under the new structure, BCs will receive 26.73% reservation in gram panchayat ward member posts and 27.95% in sarpanch posts. The quota will be 25.55% in Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies and 24.6% each in Mandal Parishad president and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency posts. Reservation for Zilla Parishad chairpersons has been fixed at 23.08%.
In urban local bodies, the government has approved 32.78% reservation for ward member posts, 33.02% for municipal chairpersons and 35.29% for mayoral posts.
The decision follows a Supreme Court setback to the state government’s earlier plan to provide 34% reservation for BCs in local bodies.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav accused YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of reducing BC reservation from 34% to 24% during his tenure. He also alleged that delays in conducting local body elections could affect the release of funds under the 16th Finance Commission.
The revised quota structure sets out the government’s approach to BC representation as the state moves towards local body elections.
