YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and former Minister Poluboina Anil Kumar Yadav on Wednesday alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was preparing to “deceive” Backward Classes (BCs) by announcing 34% reservations in local bodies and subsequently allowing the move to be challenged in court.

Addressing a press conference at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, Mr. Anil Kumar Yadav alleged that the government would later blame the YSRCP for any legal hurdles to implement the proposed quota. He claimed that details of the reservation proposal were being released in advance to create an impression that the Opposition would approach the courts.

He recalled that the previous YSRCP government had issued an order in 2019 providing for 34% BC reservations in local bodies, but the move was challenged in court. He alleged that people associated with Mr. Naidu were behind the litigation.

Mr. Anil Kumar Yadav claimed that the YSRCP government had expanded BC political representation despite legal restrictions on reservations. He said 11 of the State’s 25 Lok Sabha seats and four Rajya Sabha seats were given to BC leaders, while 28 of 58 MLC positions went to the community.

He further claimed that BC leaders had secured nine of 13 mayoral posts, six of 13 Zilla Parishad chairperson positions and 44 of 84 municipal chairperson posts during the YSRCP regime. He also cited the appointment of 76 BC leaders as market yard chairpersons.