In yet another attempt to appease the weaker sections in the run-up to the next year’s assembly elections, YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has given the lion’s share to them in the distribution of party tickets for the MLC elections.
Out of the total newly proposed 18 MLC seats, 14 seats have been announced for the leaders from SC, ST, BC and minority communities, thus empowering these communities by giving around 80% of the seats to them.
An official release from the party said with the vision of political empowerment to these communities, the chief minister made the announcement that 11 BCs, 2 SCs, 1 ST and 4 OCs will be given the seats for the elections scheduled to be held on March 13.
The representation given to the SCs, STs, backward classes and minorities by the Jagan-led govt is unheard of in Andhra Pradesh history and the same continues in this MLC elections as well.
The total strength of the Legislative council is 58, out of which 18 of these seats will go vacant in March. Continuing the practice of empowering the people from browbeaten communities, Jagan has once again announced that out of those 18 seats, close to 80% of them will be given to leaders from SC, ST, BC and minority communities.
In all, out of the total 44 seats (including the 18 seats that will go vacant), Jagan has given a whopping 68%, i.e., 30 seats, to leaders from SCs, STs, BCs and minority communities while the remaining 14 have been given to the OC leaders.
“This is not the first time CM Jagan has voiced for the equal representation of the backward communities. In 2019, when the chief minister formed his cabinet, of the 25 ministers, 56% of them were from the SC, ST, OBC and minority sections of the society,” the official release said.
Keeping the same motto of fair social representation, in April 2022, during the cabinet rehaul, Jagan once again broke all records by having close to 70% of the cabinet with SC, ST, BC and minority community leaders.
This can be seen as an example of how a promise to strengthen downtrodden communities in the society has been fulfilled by giving them massive representation in governance, the official release said.
The same principle was followed even for the nominated posts and works. Of the nominated posts and works, including the ZPPs, MPPs, AMCs, temple chairman, Municipal chairman, Mayors and Corporation chairman positions.
Jagan has ensured over 60% representation of SCs, STs, BCs and minorities for these positions. In 2021, SCs, STs, BCs and minorities were given 67% representation in the MPP president post while the communities were given 69% representation in ZPP Chairmen positions.
Leaving no stones unturned, CM Jagan had given 86% of mayor positions, 73% of municipal chairmen positions, to SCs, STs, BCs and minorities.