In what can be a blessing in disguise for the ruling YSR Congress party in Andhra Pradesh, the state high court on Monday turned down the decision of the state government to provide 59.85 per cent reservations for the weaker sections in the local bodies.
The high court ruled that the total percentage of reservations in the local bodies should not exceed 50 per cent, as the Supreme Court had given a judgement in the past, fixing a cap of 50 per cent on the reservations.
The high court dismissed the government order with regard to the reservations in the local bodies. It directed that the government fix the reservations for Backward Classes within a month and the election process be continued after four weeks.
The high court order gave an excellent chance for the YSRC to describe the Telugu Desam Party as anti-BC, as the person – Pratap Reddy, who challenged the increased quota for weaker sections in the high court, is supposedly a TDP worker.
Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Botsa Satyanaryana said Naidu had scant respect for social justice and for the uplift of weaker sections.
He alleged that while Jagan had provide 59% reservations to the weaker sections in local bodies elections, Naidu had directed his lower-rung leader to file a case to stall the hike in quota.
“This clearly shows that he is against the weaker sections and do not want social justice and empower the weaker sections. Naidu will remain as a characterless person in the history of Andhra Pradesh,” Botsa alleged.
He, however, said the government would abide by the High Court verdict that reservations should not exceed 50 per cent and would go ahead to complete the election process to the local bodies within a month.